bouncing/squeeking speedo

GhettoPop · 07-24-2004, 05:57 PM

replaced speedo cable to try and solve my problem. speedo bounces much more at 20mph now but does not bounce as much as it used to at 30+mph. lets see if the annoying squeeking comes back.......so far so good.........

RPM427 · 07-25-2004, 01:55 PM

Have you checked the condition of the speedo gear (driven)? If you have 3:73 or "lower" gears, changing the drive gear in the transmission is only way to get accurate speedo measurements and prevent your gear form getting chewed up.

Hethj7 · 07-25-2004, 05:33 PM

When I had my white face gauges installed the guy doing them said that the bouncing needle is caused by a bent frame that the needle sits on. He fixed mine at the time, but it now bounces again.

I don't exactly get how a bent frame would cause that, especially because it only happens at certain speeds, but that is what I was told is the cause.

Scrapla · 07-25-2004, 09:18 PM

I always thought that was the norm with our older fox bodies my needle bounces until about 20mph and I also have 3:73's but didnt change anything else so my speedo it about 10-15mph off

chatcher · 07-25-2004, 11:31 PM

i had the bouncy speedo prob my mechanic friend said the speedo was shot so i went to the junk yard and got a gauge cluster, swapped them and he was right now i just have the whole unknown mileage issue to contend with if i ever try to sell it
i did keep the original gauge cluster and wrote down how many miles were on the new one when i installed it hopefully that wil l sufice should i ever need to sell it if not though who cares what the dial reads
im gonna say its not the cable or the gear though your gonna need the gauge wether you get a new one from ford (expensive) or if you go the route i did

speedytang · 07-25-2004, 11:46 PM

Cable needs lubed. I have a speedo grease fitting that you screw on the end of the cable by unscrewing from the transmission then screwing this adapter on. I usually grease mine when it starts making noise or every 3 years. I purchased it from a Corvette vendor because I need it for its speedometer and mechanical tach drive or my needles are bouncing every direction and the noise is a sonic roar.

GhettoPop · 07-26-2004, 10:53 AM

new speedo cable lubed at installation, so lube is not the problem. i have stock gears and tire size, car was never beaten/raced, i don't think the speedo gear is suspect. it bounces at around 20mph, then its pretty solid after that. its obviously the speedo gauge itself, stupid ford. but the squeeking has not come back yet.......i'll keep crossing my fingers..........

88fivepointoh · 07-26-2004, 01:28 PM

my gt does that when its colder out.. very annoying. its the cable.. needs lube, better off replacing it.

GhettoPop · 07-26-2004, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 88fivepointoh
my gt does that when its colder out.. very annoying. its the cable.. needs lube, better off replacing it.

just installed new cabe w/ lube, still bounces, but at different ranges than with the old stock cable

88fivepointoh · 07-26-2004, 02:29 PM

hmm, the cable is the most common cause. well if the cable didn't solve it then its either:

A. the gauge ( speedo )
B. the Gear on the trans.

If the gauge is bad, ebay is the best place to get a entire used cluster for under 50 bucks.

Gears are cheap. I would take it out and look at it for damage.

tmoss · 07-26-2004, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 88fivepointoh
my gt does that when its colder out.. very annoying. its the cable.. needs lube, better off replacing it.

Mine is the same. Cold weather it is fairly noticeable but when it's warm is pretty quiet.

rdy2rn2 · 07-30-2004, 03:33 PM

if you replaced the cable it is the gauge. some bounce will be there due to different gears but not that bad.

Hethj7 · 07-31-2004, 05:41 PM

Go back to my first post in this thread....it is quite likely that the housing for the unit is bent.

This would not cause the squeaking, but the bouncing needle is a result of this, so I've been told.

07-24-2004, 05:57 PM	#1
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	bouncing/squeeking speedo replaced speedo cable to try and solve my problem. speedo bounces much more at 20mph now but does not bounce as much as it used to at 30+mph. lets see if the annoying squeeking comes back.......so far so good......... __________________ 1990 GT,stock T-5,K&N w/o air silencer,March underdrives,FMS wires,timing@14*,PA Perf 130amp alt,Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter,Steeda adj quadrant/clutch cable/firewall adj,Centerforce II clutch,o/r x-pipe,Magnaflow SS catback,g-load brace, subframes,Bilstein struts/shocks,Autometer gauges, 136k and running strong!

07-25-2004, 01:55 PM	#2
RPM427 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Huntington NY Posts: 573	Have you checked the condition of the speedo gear (driven)? If you have 3:73 or "lower" gears, changing the drive gear in the transmission is only way to get accurate speedo measurements and prevent your gear form getting chewed up. __________________ -1993 Mustang, 900rwhp 03-04 cobra based 4v swap, full Griggs setup, project underway -1994 Ranger w/ 427cid windsor (daily beater) check it out!

07-25-2004, 05:33 PM	#3
Hethj7 Mizzou Tigers Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: weston, MO United States Posts: 1,455	When I had my white face gauges installed the guy doing them said that the bouncing needle is caused by a bent frame that the needle sits on. He fixed mine at the time, but it now bounces again. I don't exactly get how a bent frame would cause that, especially because it only happens at certain speeds, but that is what I was told is the cause. __________________ 2006 Mustang GT 1990 LX GT-40 motor 262 horsepower, 307ft-lbs (sold but forever loved) 1998 Contour SVT Rice Haters Club Member #244

07-25-2004, 09:18 PM	#4
Scrapla Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 532	I always thought that was the norm with our older fox bodies my needle bounces until about 20mph and I also have 3:73's but didnt change anything else so my speedo it about 10-15mph off __________________ 90gt 347 and some bolt ons :-) RICE HATERS MEMBER #73

07-25-2004, 11:31 PM	#5
chatcher Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: butler pa Posts: 303	i had the bouncy speedo prob my mechanic friend said the speedo was shot so i went to the junk yard and got a gauge cluster, swapped them and he was right now i just have the whole unknown mileage issue to contend with if i ever try to sell it i did keep the original gauge cluster and wrote down how many miles were on the new one when i installed it hopefully that wil l sufice should i ever need to sell it if not though who cares what the dial reads im gonna say its not the cable or the gear though your gonna need the gauge wether you get a new one from ford (expensive) or if you go the route i did __________________ 92lx wannabe saleen

07-25-2004, 11:46 PM	#6
speedytang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Marengo, Ohio.USA Posts: 135	Cable needs lubed. I have a speedo grease fitting that you screw on the end of the cable by unscrewing from the transmission then screwing this adapter on. I usually grease mine when it starts making noise or every 3 years. I purchased it from a Corvette vendor because I need it for its speedometer and mechanical tach drive or my needles are bouncing every direction and the noise is a sonic roar.

07-26-2004, 10:53 AM	#7
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	new speedo cable lubed at installation, so lube is not the problem. i have stock gears and tire size, car was never beaten/raced, i don't think the speedo gear is suspect. it bounces at around 20mph, then its pretty solid after that. its obviously the speedo gauge itself, stupid ford. but the squeeking has not come back yet.......i'll keep crossing my fingers.......... __________________ 1990 GT,stock T-5,K&N w/o air silencer,March underdrives,FMS wires,timing@14*,PA Perf 130amp alt,Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter,Steeda adj quadrant/clutch cable/firewall adj,Centerforce II clutch,o/r x-pipe,Magnaflow SS catback,g-load brace, subframes,Bilstein struts/shocks,Autometer gauges, 136k and running strong!

07-26-2004, 01:28 PM	#8
88fivepointoh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rochester Posts: 553	my gt does that when its colder out.. very annoying. its the cable.. needs lube, better off replacing it.

07-26-2004, 02:29 PM	#10
88fivepointoh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rochester Posts: 553	hmm, the cable is the most common cause. well if the cable didn't solve it then its either: A. the gauge ( speedo ) B. the Gear on the trans. If the gauge is bad, ebay is the best place to get a entire used cluster for under 50 bucks. Gears are cheap. I would take it out and look at it for damage.

07-30-2004, 03:33 PM	#12
rdy2rn2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: virginia Posts: 9	gauge if you replaced the cable it is the gauge. some bounce will be there due to different gears but not that bad.

07-31-2004, 05:41 PM	#13
Hethj7 Mizzou Tigers Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: weston, MO United States Posts: 1,455	Go back to my first post in this thread....it is quite likely that the housing for the unit is bent. This would not cause the squeaking, but the bouncing needle is a result of this, so I've been told. __________________ 2006 Mustang GT 1990 LX GT-40 motor 262 horsepower, 307ft-lbs (sold but forever loved) 1998 Contour SVT Rice Haters Club Member #244

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