A few months back my DVD-ROM drive got stuck. The tray wasn't going in (so the paperclip trick had no use) and when I shoved it in then it wouldn't eject so then i HAD to use the paperclip trick. But then it went right back to being stuck.

Just recently I needed to use a DVD and I realized that I could try to fix this messed up drive because I have a decent amount of experience with PCs and tech in general.

So I'm looking at it now and it's open. It seems as though the spindle motor (the little black wheel that spins the CD) is rising up too quickly and is grinding against the plastic tray. Therefore, the plastic tray cannot move further without pushing it in manually. When I do push it in, the plastic gears make a lot of noise as though the track is (somehow) going in the opposite direction.

So does anyone have any idea how to fix this?
Kevin: I have already removed the tray once and slid it back in, but the problem still exists. I did not find any broken teeth either.