Kenmore Dryer Drum Felt Seal Replacement

What the Symptoms Tell You#

If scorch marks show mostly on large draping items, suspect the front seal; a noisier dryer with fewer marks points at the rear seal.

Decode the Prefix#

The model prefix names the builder and the parts. A 110 prefix is Whirlpool, using W10 and WP part numbers; a 796 prefix is LG (Kenmore Elite) with LG part numbers; a 417 prefix is Frigidaire. Whichever it is, order the OEM manufacturer's number rather than the Kenmore-branded equivalent for the 30-40% saving on an identical felt strip.

Replacing the Seals#

1. Unplug the dryer.
2. Remove the top panel by releasing the spring clips with a putty knife or removing the rear screws.
3. Disconnect the door-switch wires and remove the front panel.
4. Support the drum, then peel the old front felt off the drum lip and scrape the adhesive residue clean.
5. Apply the new adhesive-backed felt around the front lip — adhesive to the drum, felt facing the bulkhead — pressing out any gaps at the seam.
6. For the rear seal, slip the belt off the idler and lift the drum out, then peel, clean, and apply the rear felt the same way.
7. Reinstall the drum, route the belt around the drum, motor pulley, and idler, and reassemble.

A putty knife, a Phillips #2, a 5/16-inch nut driver, and pliers for the belt cover the job in about an hour for both seals.

Read the Fault Codes#

Whirlpool-based Kenmore dryers use an F- and E-number system worth recognizing: E1 for a thermistor open and E2 for a thermistor short, F01 at the main control, F22 for the exhaust thermistor, F23 for the exhaust high limit, F26 on the motor circuit, and F30 for restricted airflow. LG-based Kenmore Elite dryers instead report codes such as E13 for a power failure. None of these are the seal itself, but they often show up alongside the airflow problems a bad seal creates.

Do Both, and Check the Drum#

Replace both seals while the drum is out — the extra part is cheap and it saves repeating the whole disassembly later. While the drum is off, check its running surface for scoring or rust from running on missing felt; sand any rough spot smooth before applying the new seal so it does not chew through prematurely.

Front Seal or Rear Seal#

The two felt seals fail a little differently, and where the damage shows tells you which one is worn. Scorch marks concentrated on large draping items — sheets and towels that ride against the front of the drum — usually mean the front seal has thinned. A dryer that has grown noisier, with thumping or scraping and fewer marks, more often points to the rear seal, where the drum rides against the rear bulkhead. Since pulling the drum to reach the rear seal is most of the labor, it is worth replacing both felts on the same teardown regardless of which one prompted the repair.

Expected Lifespan#

Felt drum seals last about 8-15 years on Whirlpool-based dryers and 8-12 years on the LG-based Elite models. Overloading is the main accelerant, since heavy loads press harder against the felt, so running smaller, more frequent loads is easier on the seals.