What is this? Possible Speedometer connection?

[Fluxn83]

On my way home from a horror convention, just before I got on the highway, I noticed my speedometer wasn't working anymore. Then, I heard a clunk from underneathe the car. I pulled over, popped my head under the front driver side, and saw this hose with a connector. Nothing was leaking from it, so I duct taped it to the frame away from moving parts (which is why you see tape on the hose). Car drove absolutely fine, especially given that it was a hot day.

Anyone know if this is for the speedometer or something completely different? Safe to drive still as long as it's kept out of the way? Thank you!

-Fluxn83

[opethmike]

That's the angle drive; which drives the speedometer.

[Fluxn83]

That's the angle drive; which drives the speedometer.

I had a feeling. Thank you for clarifying, you are awesome!

[sdg3205]

I had a feeling. Thank you for clarifying, you are awesome!

Yeah, Mike's okay.

[Chris 16409]

I've never seen an angle drive shear off like that before? I wonder if the little snap rings that hold the angle drive to the nut failed?

[opethmike]

Yeah, Mike's okay.

When I'm not hopped up on ghost peppers.


I've never seen an angle drive shear off like that before? I wonder if the little snap rings that hold the angle drive to the nut failed?

Yeah, this brings up the concern of the axle nut on that wheel. If that is compromised from this incident, it could potentially cause a really nasty failure. I would suggest not driving the car again until the OP can verify that.

[Fluxn83]

When I'm not hopped up on ghost peppers.



Yeah, this brings up the concern of the axle nut on that wheel. If that is compromised from this incident, it could potentially cause a really nasty failure. I would suggest not driving the car again until the OP can verify that.

How can I verify? What do I look for? I was driving for an hour back to the house, and I didn't feel anything wrong.

[Jonathan]

Here's three pictures from a number of years ago when I was learning how to get speedos working...

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The picture with the DMCH instructions underneath shows the angle drive complete with the nut attached.

The picture from the rear shows what the angle drive will look like installed with the nut in place and the lower speedo cable attached and running off towards the driver's footwell.

The picture from the front of the wheel shows the other important nut in place and it is here where you would put on the dust cap to drive the cable that goes down the length of the hub and spins the angle drive gears (dust cap not shown).

These two nuts are awfully important to be in place and tight. They kind of pull each other towards themselves when you tighten them. Meaning, if you get the outside one loose, the inside one can be loosened with your fingers, but if the outside one is still tight, you can have a helluva time getting the inside one to budge. They pretty much hold the hub (and wheel) to the car so not having them tight might mean your wheel doesn't stay attached (not good).

Here's another sketch of the parts and what ones you might need (the nuts aren't shown on this though ironically).

52607

You should probably put the front of the car up (with a jack at home for starters), take the front left wheel off and then visually inspect those nuts. My guess is that they are both in place and still quite tight but somehow your angle drive tried to start spinning with the wheel instead of being free to "float" in place and got sheared off. That's a lot of shear force if it did that, so I'd be looking at your lower cable closely to see if it got chewed because that might have been what held it up... or part of the suspension like the top of the lower ball joint or maybe even the tie rod end or whatever it is that might be in reach if that angle drive started rotating while in place. It might bang up against the spring perhaps. Have a look at what might have gotten scratched and that'll tell you where it happened.

[Jason]

I've never seen an angle drive shear off like that before? I wonder if the little snap rings that hold the angle drive to the nut failed?

I had this happen recently with a brand new angle drive from DMCH. I installed it, gave the wheel a spin to make sure everything was working, and the angle drive just fell apart.

They sent me a replacement and that one has been fine.

[Gregadeth]

On some cars that hub nut is a 32mm, and on others (like mine) it's a 36mm.

[Josh]

I had this happen twice to different angle drives.
It seems it is extremely difficult to make an angle drive that lasts for whatever reason.
I wouldnt get too concerned with the spindle nut torque, but it wont hurt checking.