Last Updated on
Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication. Here’s how we make money.
When I look at the pedals of my mt bike, I think of them as the engine of the ride. It’s obvious that without them, bikes would be nothing but just immovable metals with two wheels. But as significant as they are in helping a rider propel their bike at whatever speed they like, bike pedals don’t last a lifetime.
They are subject to wear and tear and they must be replaced. There’s not exactly the right or wrong time to do the job, but as soon as you notice that the pedals have started to wear out, it is best to remove and replace them.
Removing and replacing bike pedals is quite easy. So you don’t have to take it to a bike shop for repair. With just a few simple tools and about an hour to spare for the job, you can remove and replace the pedals with ease. Just follow these steps carefully.
Step 1: Remove The Old, Worn Out Pedals
Start by securing your bike on a very flat surface. You can lean the bike up against the wall, secure it upside down using the saddle and the handlebar, or rest it on a kickstand if it has one.
It is important to understand that pedals aren’t designed the same but you can change them almost the same way. So you want to check them first to know the type of wrench you will need for the job. If the space between the crank arm and the pedal has flats, a pedal wrench will get the job done.
Wrap the pedal wrench on the flats and rotate it counterclockwise to loosen the right pedal and clockwise to loosen the left pedal. Keep rotating the pedal wrench accordingly, yet slowly, until the pedals are completely loose.
Some pedals don’t have the flats. If this is the case with yours, then it means the pedals have hexagonal Allen-wrench socket in which case you will need an Allen wrench.
Here, the hexagonal end of the wrench will go into the Allen wrench socket. Same to what you did to wrench flats, rotate the Allen wrench anticlockwise to loosen the right pedal and clockwise to loosen the left pedal.
Once you are sure that the pedals on the right and left are completely loose, go ahead and pull them out of the pedal holes.
Pro Tips
- If your bike pedals have both wrench flats and Allen wrench socket, use both an Allen wrench and a pedal wrench for removal.
Step 2: Fitting New Pedals
If you have ever gone to a bike shop to repair bike pedals, you will notice that the bike man often applies waterproof grease to the threads in the pedal holes. This is very important and a step that you do not want to skip. The grease ensures that the pedals don’t seize, thus making them easier to take off in the future.
Waterproof grease for bikes is readily available. If you love to shop online, you can order the product on Amazon. If you’d rather shop for the grease offline, then it’s best to buy from a local bike shop.
Go ahead and insert the pedals in their respective holes. Note that they are marked accordingly. So you shouldn’t have a difficult time figuring out which one goes to the right hole and vice versa.
Now it’s just a matter of wrapping the jaw of the wrench around the flats. The hexagonal end of the wrench should go through the pedal hole and thereafter into the socket if you are using an Allen wrench.
Now rotate the right pedal clockwise to tighten it. Rotate slowly and keep doing that until you are sure that the pedal is tightened properly.
Repeat the same thing with the left pedal, but this time make sure you rotate the wrench counterclockwise. Keep rotating the wrench until you are sure that the left pedal is completely tightened.
Pro Tips
- Make sure the pedals are not too tight or too loose. If they are too loose, they will most likely fall off and ruin your riding experience. If they are too tight, they might be difficult to remove in the future when you itch for an upgrade.
Now that you know how to remove worn out pedals and replace them with new ones, it should be easy for you to do the job on your own. You won’t have to call at the bike shop. And you’ll even save money because you do not have to pay anyone to repair the pedals for you.
