Speed Queen dryer is squeaking and drum has dropped.

[no user name]

I have a Speed Queen AEM333W electric dryer, about 7-10 years old. Several months ago it started squeaking very loudly but I've continued to use it anyway. Since then, I've noticed that it was leaving black marks and streaks on clothing. I also noticed that the drum had dropped. So where it was once centered, there's now a gap (1/4-1/2 inch) between the drum and the back and front panels inside due to its dropping. And the black marks appear to be from the clothing rubbing against the felt gasket inside this gap.

I haven't opened the dryer to inspect but I assumed it was a belt though it seems like it has to be more than just that. Any ideas as to all what's wrong? And do you think it's even worth fixing?

Thank you in advance for your help!

[JWWebster]

The black marks are what left from the rubber coming off that squeaky WHEEL. You now need a new set of wheels most likely.

[no user name]

So, based on the ease of repair, cost, etc, would this seem like I'd be better off replacing this machine? Also, what role do these wheels play and what would cause the drum to drop?

Thanks

[JWWebster]

I would not replace this machine no way under the sun.
 It is 5 times better than anything new out there on the market right now. Well worth repairing.

[AJ]

Also, what role do these wheels play and what would cause the drum to drop?

The wheels support the drum.

[no user name]

Okay thanks, friends! In your opinion, is this a relatively straight forward, easy repair? I have my share of tools but any specialty tools required, etc? 

[no user name]

Please let me ask too, how many wheels are there that should be replaced? I'll need to know how many to order. I looked at the diagram on this site for this model and I don't see anything about the wheels.

[JWWebster]

You have two wheel on back and you have glides on the front. If your rollers are bad your glides are gone dude. Go ahead and replace all of them and give it a good clean.
POP the top as seen below (Click to enlarge pics) The innards look like the next photo

[Tuco]

This week in my city dump, was a nice pile of Maytag Dependable series  washers & dryers, many  Whirlpool Direct Drives too.

When their gone their gone.

Never seen the insides of a Speed Queen.The pictures make the machine look of high quality.

[JWWebster]

It is a dang nice dryer. Well worth repairing and nothing on the market today can beat it for performance. It would be a shame to toss it to the curb.

[no user name]

JW, thanks for the pictures and information. As always, you're a wealth of knowledge and great information so I trust your advice. I looked for the glides too on this site, are they just the glide felts or the entire apparatus? I'm not sure what I need from this sites part description? Also, you sent me the link to the wheels but another wheel showed up as well (they called it a "roller") when I did an available part search for my model dryer.
Last, do you think the belt is stretched at this point due to the lack of support from the wheels and therefore, I should order one of those too?

Usually I'd take the thing that needs repair apart first so I can see everything but I'm still using this in its current condition. 
Want to make sure I get everything ordered at one time.

Thanks

[JWWebster]

Looks like this one the front of the drum just rides on a big old felt piece, I think this is it:
Front felt or bearing or deal


The rollers Looks to be $8 a piece HERE


NUMBER 7 is the bear/seal the front of the drum rides on

I looked for a shroud like in the above pictured speed queen but could not find one so I am assuming the drum simply rides on that felt. I have seen that before on differing models.

[no user name]

Thanks again, JW. Some of those links are blank but I think I should probably just go ahead and pull this sucker apart to get a good look at everything.

 

Looks like this one the front of the drum just rides on a big old felt piece, I think this is it:
Front felt or bearing or deal


The rollers Looks to be $8 a piece HERE


NUMBER 7 is the bear/seal the front of the drum rides on

I looked for a shroud like in the above pictured speed queen but could not find one so I am assuming the drum simply rides on that felt. I have seen that before on differing models.

[AJ]

I repaired the link that did not work.