The short answer
On the AED dryer this symptom is usually the drum support rollers, which carry the whole weight of a loaded drum and are the part that wears first on a machine of this layout. The AED family is a single model number, so the parts list behind every check below is unambiguous.
What you observe
- A rhythmic thump in time with the drum — Once per revolution puts it at the drum supports or the belt, not at the motor.
- A high squeal that rises and falls with the drum — A bearing under belt tension, which is the idler far more often than anything else.
- A fast metallic rattle much quicker than the drum — Blower speed, which means something loose has reached the blower wheel.
- A constant drone from the moment the machine starts — Unchanging noise is the motor rather than anything the drum drives.
- NEAR MISS — a loud bang and then the drum stops turning — A noise that ends in no rotation is a broken belt or a seized part, and the will-not-start page covers what to do next.
Causes, most likely first on the AED family
- Drum support rollers worn or seized — First on this family. A seized one squeals instead, and either version is loudest with the machine running empty, which is the easiest way to hear it clearly.
- Drive belt frayed, glazed or starting to part — Second on these models. A frayed edge or a glazed patch slaps against the drum once per revolution, which is a regular soft thump rather than a metallic one.
- Coin, button or debris in the blower wheel — Third. It is also the noise that is completely fixed by removing one object, which is why it deserves ranking before anything mechanical.
- Front glides or felt seal worn through — Last of the four, and the one to reach for only when the others are clean. Worn glides give a scraping or rubbing noise that is constant rather than rhythmic, and they often leave marks on clothing as well.
- Body: A brand-generic article on this symptom starts with the drum support rollers, and so does this one. What changes below it is the order: the drive belt moves up on these models, because a single-model family leaves nothing to average across, so the ranking can follow what this one platform actually does.
Check in this order, and why
- Run the machine empty on an air cycle and listen for a noise in time with the drum — Anything that repeats once per drum revolution is at the drum supports rather than at the motor.
- Listen for a soft repeating slap that keeps time with the drum — A soft, regular thump with no grinding is usually belt rather than bearing, and the belt is the cheaper part.
- Listen for a fast rattle much quicker than the drum rotation — A rattle far faster than the drum is at the blower, and something loose in there needs removing before it damages the wheel.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off.
Models in the AED family
Reference| Model number | Family key |
|---|---|
| AED4600T** | amana:dryer:aed |
When to call a technician
Call when the noise survives the free checks — levelling, panels pressed, machine run empty — because the rest is behind the cabinet. Call promptly for grinding that is getting worse, since a seizing bearing damages parts that are currently fine.
Other faults covered for the AED family
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
