I am going to be replacing my speedo cable sometime next month...but in the meantime I want to disconnect it because of the horrible sound it is making, I heard that d/c it might help but I am afraid of getting oil dripping down from behind the instrument cluster. How do you d/c it from behind the speedo and will oil drip down? Should I tape a small plastic bag over it until I get around to replacing it?

Kev,

Disconnecting it at the speedo end will not help. The cable will still be turning and making noise. There really is no "oil" to leake out.

Take it off at the tranny end and pull the inner cable out. Then clean it and oil it up real good and put it back in. It will probably work like new. I think there is actually a special grease made for speedo cables, not sure where you might find it though. I have always used some oil or regular chassis grease.

Graphite works well.

I am just going to d/c it and replace it with a new one.

Not my business, but I have greased many a noisy cable in my day and had significant success with stopping noise completely. Why spend money when you can fix it yourself?

Grease works just fine on old cables.

Bill's right. When I bought my car the seller told me the speedo needed to be replaced because it was noisy. I put a little lube in the cable the day I got it home and it's been totally silent for 6 years now. I had the same experience on my 68 Malibu several years ago.

The new cable is free. Free is good and I aint wasting any money.