Step by step

1 Open up and pull the drum

Same teardown as a belt job: top up, front off, belt tension released, drum out. (See the belt guide for detail — you’re replacing that too, since it’s off anyway.)
2 Spin every wheel

Rollers should spin freely and silently with no flat spots; the idler should spin without squealing; front glides (if fitted) shouldn’t be worn to metal.
3 Swap the rollers

Pry off the triangular retaining clips (they love to fly — cup a hand over them), slide off old rollers, slide on new, new clips from the kit.
4 Swap the idler

The idler arm usually lifts out of a slot; transfer the new pulley or replace the whole arm per your kit.
5 New belt, drum back in, test

Route the new belt, reassemble, and enjoy a dryer that sounds five years younger.

GE GFD65ESSNWW notes & error codes

Steam dryers need a cold water connection, and the inlet screen scales up in hard water exactly like a washer valve. Check the screen before condemning the steam valve.

Code	What it means
E1	Thermistor or temperature sensing fault
E3	Door circuit fault
E6	Motor circuit fault

Full details for this machine — common problems, causes, and costs — are in the GE GFD65ESSNWW repair guide. The general version of these instructions is here.

🔧 WHEN TO CALL A PRO

Grinding from the very back center after new rollers points at the rear drum bearing — some models make that a genuinely miserable job and a fair thing to hand to a pro. If you'd rather skip it entirely, find a dryer repair pro near you →