Had to choose between a cheap universal dryer belt and the OEM part last week

The universal one was $12 and the real Whirlpool belt was $45. I went cheap to save the customer money, and it snapped after two loads. Ended up going back for the OEM part anyway and eating the cost myself. Anyone else get burned by those universal belts on certain models?

3 comments

3 Comments

paulperry11d ago

Feel like people make too big a deal about OEM parts sometimes. Sure that belt broke fast but was it the part or did something else cause it? Seen cheap belts last for years on old dryers. Maybe you just got a bad one or installed it too tight.

perry.avery11d ago

Forget the belt itself for a second. Check the drum rollers and idler pulley. If one of those is seized up or grinding, it puts crazy extra strain on the belt no matter who made it. A new belt just becomes the weak link that shows the real problem. You could put the best OEM belt on there and it'll snap again if a roller is shot.

jana_henderson5211d ago

Ever just have a run of bad luck with parts? I swear some machines just eat belts no matter what you put on them. Gets expensive fast.