Hey guys, the speedometer cable in my 91 GEN II pajero had broke a while ago, I went through the hassle of changing it with one from my parts truck, now its starting to squeal again like the original one before it broke. What kind of lube can I put in there that will last a while?? I have tried a couple now but only lasted a short while.

I use a spray white lithium grease. It works and last well.

I have tried lithium grease and it still squeaks...maybe my squeaking is in the speedo cluster itself...it sure does wave up and down a lot at low speeds, and it also did that before my old one broke. GRRR I'd hate to have to change it again, it was not fun!

do not use a spray lithium. use regular wheel bearing grease.

I doubt that the cable is causing the noise. Pull the cable and wipe it clean. use some wheel bearing grease and pack the bottom ferrule. work the cable in and out adding more grease as needed.

if it still makes noise then the speeo is bad. it can not be repaired and must be replaced with used or new.

Take this advice to heart. i am an expert.

He is. He fixes them for a living! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

yeah the lithium grease dries up which is why I was skeptical on it.

if it is the cluster its no big deal, I've got another!! haha. thank god for finding another JDM parts truck!

thanks for the help though guys! I will pack some wheel bearing grease inside.

I have spray lube made for motorcycle cables that made mine shut up for good. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It only cost be about $10 and since I have 2 bikes I also have other uses so it was a pretty easy choice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

More than likely the squeal is from the speedometer. They are very easy to fix. In your case pull it from the truck and turn it so the cable fitting is up. Put a couple of drops of engine oil, I have been using Mobil 1 with 100% success.
Occasionally you need to disassemble the instrument and lube some of the other shafts in them but the squeal is the input bearing.
With the cable I use a "Marine Moly" grease from McMaster Carr. This is a very slipper light blend grease that works well especially up in the colder climates. An alternative to the Moly grease in the cable would again be a synthetic oil.

The Mitsubishi Speedometer is not made to be rebuilt in any way.

You can dissassemble the upper frame frome the lower frame but there is NOTHING to lubricate in the upper frame. In fact lucbricating it would be adding grease to something that is NEVER greased.

there is also no such thing as an " input bearing " in a speedometer.

The noise you hear is a dry speedometer turning against a small thrust washer. eventually it will "catch " the washer and self destruct the speedometer.

I am giving you this info not to be a jerk but just to inform you.

The speedometer is made up of a lower main frame ( magnet and frame in brass bushing ) and upper frame ( pointer , faceplate , speed cup and odometer assembly) .

The cable rotates a magnet in a brass bushing in the lower frame. The magnet produces a magnetic field wich makes the speedometer go up. a small hairsping brings it back to zero.

The lower frame is pressed together. a lot of Foreign speedometers are designed this way. The metal is so rigid that when it is pressed apart, the metal cracks and breaks off. That is why the average Japanese Speedometer can not be rebuilt.

There is nothing the matter with adding a couple drops of oil ( i prefer clock oil ) to the lower frame to quiet it down. I would get a drill to run the unit upside down and add some clock oil to the input as it is turning.

Warning!---too much oil will infect your speed cup. you will know when this happens as the speedometer will read 80 when you do 20 mph.

I really should get a spare mitsubishi speedometer and take it apart and post pictures so the peeps can really understand as well as see what i am saying.

Sorry I used the term bearing instead of bushing, but if you need pictures of disassembled instruments I have plenty here. I have Mitsu instruments dating back to the early 70s and routinely find them needing lubrication.
I also replace the faces with a 180 MPH display and recalibrate them for accuracy through the new range. I know these units better than anyone who just says replace it.