I have a 97 Tracker and I am getting in whining/grinding noise that is speed related not rpm. Can i remove the cluster and grease the speedo input or something? thanks

Does the speedo jump around a bit?  If so it is probably your cluster and not the cable. 

No, it sweeps pretty smoothly

That noise happened to me in my 96, for a while it was just noise, then the needle started jumping around, and then one day the needle just popped right off and fell down to the bottom of the cluster.

I ended up swapping the whole cluster from a parts truck. Dint change the cable, and it still works just fine.

this is quite a common problem

relatively easy fix but you really gotta get in there


ive been living with the noise for a year now

So what is the easy fix?

A new cluster. 

You can remove the cluster without having to move the steering wheel, you just need to take your time.

I hit my windshield washer a lot when playing with the cluster, but it can all be done through the wheel. Takes a little time & patience. Sometimes I wonder if it'd be a little quicker to pull the steering wheel, but I've never tried it yet...

Only prob with removing the steering wheel, is the air bag. Those arent toys lemme tell ya.

At least thats for me in my 96, older trucks dint have air bags ( I dont think, correct me if im wrong ).

Air bag is no big deal. Just pull the fuse (in a separate yellow box under dash driver's side). When the air bag gets unplugged, be cautious of static electricity. Don't touch the electrical connectors unnecessairly, and you'll be fine. I think my air bags were all of 2 bolts & 2 connectors. Actually, gaining access to the steering wheel bolt was EASIER on my air bag model than it was on my non airbag model.