speedometer stopped working / ? angle drive replacement

[lindbergh]

My speedometer stopped working and when I replaced the old stripped out dust cap, I noticed binding/clicking in the angle drive when rotating the wheel in the forward direction, there didn't appear to be binding in the reverse direction. I disconnected the speedometer cable from the angle drive and connected it to a drill and all seems well from the cable to the speedometer. Is the angle drive the most likely culprit and is there a 'how to replace guide'?

[DMC5180]

My speedometer stopped working and when I replaced the old stripped out dust cap, I noticed binding/clicking in the angle drive when rotating the wheel in the forward direction, there didn't appear to be binding in the reverse direction. I disconnected the speedometer cable from the angle drive and connected it to a drill and all seems well from the cable to the speedometer. Is the angle drive the most likely culprit and is there a 'how to replace guide'?

Your Dust Cap typically will strip out as the angle drive wears out due to the extra load of turning the gears that are wearing out and binding.

Everything you need to know can be found in this thread.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?2230-How-do-you-remove-the-angle-drive&p=29992&viewfull=1#post29992

[lindbergh]

Your Dust Cap typically will strip out as the angle drive wears out due to the extra load of turning the gears that are wearing out and binding.

Everything you need to know can be found in this thread.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?2230-How-do-you-remove-the-angle-drive&p=29992&viewfull=1#post29992

^ Thanks!

[SS Spoiler]

I think I may have an original angle drive, unless the first owner replaced it, 25 years ago. My drive [dust]
cap striped out 24 years ago. Went down to ACE hardware and picked up a length of square brass tubing that fit over the drive cable. Forcing it into the plastic cap allowed a positive feed to the angle drive. To make sure the cap didn't spin under the rim I found a heavy foam/rubber washer that fit into the rim to press on to the cap. Has worked flawlessly since.


Paul Cerny #2691
Kalispell, MT

[Jonathan]

I think I may have an original angle drive, unless the first owner replaced it, 25 years ago. My drive [dust]
cap striped out 24 years ago. Went down to ACE hardware and picked up a length of square brass tubing that fit over the drive cable. Forcing it into the plastic cap allowed a positive feed to the angle drive. To make sure the cap didn't spin under the rim I found a heavy foam/rubber washer that fit into the rim to press on to the cap. Has worked flawlessly since.


Paul Cerny #2691
Kalispell, MT

Do you have any pictures of this you could share, Paul? The square brass tubing and how you fit it into the plastic cap, as well as the foam/rubber washer on the cap? Thanks.

[SS Spoiler]

Jonathon, I wish I had the techy skills to do that, but your taking to a guy typing with one finger and no camera. I know Dangermouse?
posted how-tos for photos, will they work on an i-mac? Someday……….

[David T]

Angle drive failure is common. Partly due to lack of lubrication and not having a bracket to hold the speedometer cable up. I know of many cars still running on the original angle drive so it is not as bad as many say they are. Remove the tiny screw and force some grease into it and if you do not have the wire loop to hold the speedo cable up get one from a vendor. That may get you going if the angle drive is not too messed up inside. Otherwise you should replace it and the dust cap. Keep the "cheat sheet" in the binnacle so if you lose the speedometer you can still figure your roadspeed from the tach. Should be in the tips section. Make sure you get the right one, one is for automatics and one is for 5-speeds.

[DMC5180]

David,

Good suggestion about adding the Cable support bracket.

http://store.delorean.com/p-7328-pipe-and-cable-brkt.aspx
I got Lucky on that one from the factory. The effectivity of that part is FROM VIN 5179. I got the 2nd one off the line. :yesss: