I have a quick question, should the cable that drivers the wiper wheel boxes just slide straight out of the wiper motor or is there something that holds it in place?

If you remove the cover plate from the motor, you can see a flat bar (connecting rod) that joins the gear wheel to the end of the cable with a pin. The flat bar needs to be removed from the gear wheel to release the cable. An E clip and washer have to be "carefully" removed from the post on the gear wheel. Should be another washer under the flat bar same as on top.