How to replace the blower wheel assembly on a Whirlpool dryer

Is your dryer leaving clothes damp or taking forever to dry? The culprit could be a faulty blower wheel, a common issue that can be easily fixed at home. Dive into our step-by-step guide, complete with a handy how-to video, and get your dryer back to peak performance in no time!

The blower wheel is a crucial component in your dryer and is responsible for circulating air through the dryer drum and vent system. Over time, the blower wheel can get damaged or worn out, which can prevent it from spinning properly. If this happens, you may notice your clothes may not be completely drying or they may be taking much longer to dry. 

Replacing the blower wheel is an easy do-it-yourself repair that can get your dryer functioning correctly again. Let’s walk through the process together on a Whirlpool dryer with part Y303836. 

If you need this part, you can find it here at AppliancePartsPros.com. If you need a different part, just enter your model number and hit the search button.

Before starting the repair, make sure the new blower wheel is specifically designed for your dryer model so it fits and operates correctly.

Watch the full repair

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

READ MORE: How To Find Your Appliance’s Model Number

What you need

• New blower wheel (part #Y303836)
• Phillips head screwdriver
• 1/4 inch nut driver
• 5/16 inch nut driver
• Needle nose pliers
• Small flathead screwdriver

READ MORE: Tips for Caring for Your Dryer | Clothes Dryer Maintenance

Safety precautions

• Always unplug your dryer or switch off the circuit breaker before you start working on it to protect yourself from electric shock.
• Take your time when removing and installing parts to prevent personal injuries or damage to the machine.

Replacement steps

Step 1 – Take the dryer apart

With the above tools in hand, we can now disassemble the dryer to access the blower wheel housing. Here’s how to do it: 

1. Remove the front panel screws: Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the screws located along the bottom of the front panel. Removing these allows the front panel to detach.
2. Set the front panel aside: With the screws removed, pull out the bottom of the front panel to release the clips from the top of the cabinet. Slowly lower the panel and pull it forward just enough to disconnect any door switch wiring. Carefully set the front panel aside.
3. Remove the bulkhead screws: The bulkhead is the front drum support and ducting that connects to the blower housing. Use a 5/16-inch nut driver to remove the four screws securing the bulkhead to the dryer frame. 
4. Move the wiring harness: Unclip the wiring harness holder attached to the bulkhead so the wiring is free.
5. Set bulkhead aside: Carefully lift off the bulkhead and set it aside, being careful not to kink or damage the ducting.
6. Remove the blower housing cover: Use a 1/4-inch nut driver to remove the screws securing the blower housing cover. There should be three or four screws.
7. Remove the bottom housing screw. Use the 5/16-inch nut driver again to remove the bottom screw that secures the blower housing cover to the dryer frame.

READ MORE: DIY Dryer Troubleshooting: What Is Causing Slow Drying Times?

Step 2 – Remove the old blower wheel

Now that the dryer interior is open, we can remove the faulty blower wheel by following these steps:

1. Compress the blower clamp: Locate the circular clamp on the blower wheel shaft. Using needle nose pliers, gently compress the clamp so it releases from the shaft.
2. Remove the clamp: Slide the loosened clamp off of the shaft and set it aside. You’ll reuse this for the new blower wheel.
3. Remove the snap ring:  A small snap ring holds the blower wheel onto the motor shaft. Use a small, flathead screwdriver to carefully pry up and remove this ring.
4. Lift off the blower wheel: With the clamp and snap ring removed, slide the blower wheel forward to remove it from the motor shaft.
5. Inspect the old blower wheel: Examine the old blower wheel to identify any damage or issues that caused it to fail. This can help prevent and diagnose future problems.

Step 3 – Install the new blower wheel

This process will be the reverse of what we did earlier to remove the old blower wheel. Follow these steps to install the new wheel:

1. Line up the shaft flats: The blower wheel has a corresponding flat spot on the inner hub. You’ll need to align this with the flat on the motor shaft and slide it into place.
2. Push on fully: Apply pressure to slide the blower wheel completely onto the motor shaft until it bottoms out.
3. Replace the snap ring: Use your flathead screwdriver to pry open the snap ring and fit it into the shaft groove. Release the ring so it snaps into place, securing the wheel.
4. Replace the clamp: Use pliers to pry open the retaining clamp, fit it over the shaft, and release it so it holds the blower wheel.
5. Test the blower wheel: Make sure the new wheel and motor shaft spin freely without wobbling before reassembling the dryer.

READ MORE: 9 Ways To Improve Your Dryer’s Performance

Step 4 – Reassemble the dryer

Now that the new blower wheel is in place, we can reassemble the dryer in the reverse order of disassembly:

1. Replace the blower housing cover: Line up the blower housing cover and replace the 1/4 inch screws along with the bottom 5/16 inch screw. Tighten them securely, but don’t overtighten them.
2. Replace the bulkhead: Position the bulkhead so the duct aligns with the blower housing opening. Replace the four 5/16-inch bulkhead screws.
3. Attach the wiring clip: Reattach the wiring harness clip to the bulkhead to hold it in place.
4. Replace the front panel: Tilt the front panel into place, aligning the clips along the top edge. Push to snap it into place.
5. Replace the front panel screws: Insert and tighten the front panel Phillips head screws.

More information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the blower wheel assembly in your Whirlpool dryer. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over 2 million parts and most orders arrive in 2-3 business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

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