Squeeky Speedo cable

[xXxHawkxXx]

1988 Caprice Classic 5.0 305.

For the last two years, my speedo cable has been squeeking every time I accelerate. However, the sound is only annoying when the colder months are around. But, this year, it seems worse. The cable still works, as I got a ticket not too long ago, but this sound is just a thorn in my side.

Thanks for any help.

[GreyGoose006]

i think you can lubricate them with graphite powder and it will fix the squeaking

[PeteA216]

Take off the speedometer, unclip the speedometer cable, and using some sort of fairly thin lubricant that'll work its way down the cable. Mine did that and sone motor oil worked out great. I got the oil nice and hot to thin it out when I squirted it down the cable. Squeak was instantly gone and has been for a few years now.

[xXxHawkxXx]

Thank you both very much.

[PeteA216]

Y'know I heard about the graphite powder. I think I have an old tube of it in my garage. I think it was used as a dry lubricant because it wasn't prone to collecting dust like a "wet" lubricant does.

[GreyGoose006]

thats the basic idea.

odd fact:
the best lubricant for your bike chain is to take ALL the oil off and dip it in molten wax, then fish it out and let it dry.
the wax seeps into every joint and protects it, but doesnt attract and hold dirt.

[GreyGoose006]

wow. a 14-tuple post... thats unheard of.
i guess i should delete them.

[PeteA216]

I'm gonna have to try the bike chain in hot wax idea. Although unusual, it sounds logical.

[mike561]

I brushed on lithum grease for my spedo cable

['97ventureowner]

That was a common problem years ago, especially in the winter as it seems that the colder temps affect the cable somehow,( whatever lubricant that is left on the cable probably gets stiff from the cold and causes the cable to vibrate). I saw this clip on an old Motorweek episode back in the late '80s where the mechanic pulled the cable out from it's sheath and placed it in a quart sized bottle full of motor oil and let it sit for a few minutes, then pulled it out , cleaned off the excess oil, and then re-fed the cable back into the sheath. He showed a diagram of how the cable spins around back and forth within it's casing and the lubricant flies off of the cable and rests on the inside of the casing to get "picked up again" by the cable as it moves around. He said the motor oil was a good choice as it remains viscous in the cold and reduces the chance of noise.

[mike561]

I was told you can also use transmission fluid as well

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by xXxHawkxXx

1988 Caprice Classic 5.0 305.

For the last two years, my speedo cable has been squeeking every time I accelerate. However, the sound is only annoying when the colder months are around. But, this year, it seems worse. The cable still works, as I got a ticket not too long ago, but this sound is just a thorn in my side.

Thanks for any help.

I used graphite 1 tablespoon to a standard size oil can and with 30wt non detergent oil droped a few squirts on cable as my speedo cable was jumping and making noise when cold at 250,000mi... it never returned.... i also use this on door pins.....