Whirlpool & Maytag Dryer Idler Pulley Arm Parts — Models & Compatibility

Your Whirlpool or Maytag dryer's making a squealing racket or the drum won't spin at all. Nine times out of ten, it's the idler pulley assembly — that spring-loaded arm that keeps tension on your dryer belt. When that wheel seizes up or the arm breaks, you're dead in the water. This hub covers the 8547174 replacement assembly that fits most WED and WGD series dryers from the mid-2010s forward.

Is This the Right Part for Your Model?

The model number's usually on a sticker inside the door frame or on the back panel. You're looking for models starting with WED (electric) or WGD (gas) followed by four digits — like WED6200SW0 or WGD6400SB1. This pulley assembly works across dozens of Whirlpool and Maytag models that share the same belt routing system. If your model number starts with one of those prefixes and was made after 2013, you're probably good.

About This Replacement Part

The 8547174 is a complete idler pulley assembly — you get the metal arm, the spring, and the wheel all in one piece. The most common symptoms pointing to this part are a high-pitched squealing noise during the cycle or the drum refusing to turn even though the motor's running. That wheel bearing seizes up from lint contamination, or the spring loses tension after years of heating and cooling cycles. Sometimes the arm itself cracks near the pivot point. This assembly replaces OEM numbers 8547174V, 8547174VP, AP5983811, and PS11722120 — they're all the same part with different supplier codes.

Compatible Whirlpool & Maytag Dryer Models

This idler pulley fits the following models. If yours isn't listed but has a similar model number pattern, it'll likely work:

• WED6200SW0, WED6200SW1 — Whirlpool electric dryers
• WED6400SB0, WED6400SB1, WED6400SG0, WED6400SG1, WED6400SW0, WED6400SW1 — Whirlpool 6400 series electric
• WED6600VU0, WED6600VW0, WED6600WL0 — Whirlpool 6600 series electric
• WGD6200SW0, WGD6200SW1, WGD6200SW2 — Whirlpool gas dryers
• WGD6400SB0, WGD6400SB1, WGD6400SG0, WGD6400SG1, WGD6400SW0, WGD6400SW1 — Whirlpool 6400 series gas
• WGD6600VU0, WGD6600VW0, WGD6600WL0 — Whirlpool 6600 series gas
• YMED6200SW0, YMED6200SW1 — Maytag electric (Whirlpool-built)
• YWED6200SW0, YWED6200SW1 — Maytag electric (Y-prefix models)

What You Need to Know Before Ordering

Check that belt while you're in there. If it's frayed or glazed, replace it at the same time — you're already doing 90% of the work anyway. The idler assembly comes with the spring pre-loaded, so you don't need to fight with hooking that up separately. You'll need to pull the front panel or top depending on your model, which means disconnecting the door switch. Not complicated, just tedious the first time.

Common Questions

Will this fix my squealing dryer? If the noise happens while the drum's turning and gets louder as the cycle goes on, yeah, this'll fix it. That's classic seized pulley wheel.

Do I need the whole assembly or just the wheel? Get the whole assembly. By the time that wheel's bad, the spring's usually shot too. Plus the arm's cheap pot metal that likes to crack.

How long does this part typically last? Four to seven years depending on how much you use the dryer. Lint kills these faster than anything else — clean your vent system.