How To Put Mountain Bike Pedals On

The pedals are the devices that allow you to push down on the pedal, which in turn causes your bike to move.

To put on mountain bike pedals, you need to start by removing the old ones. You can do this by unscrewing the bolts that are holding them in place. Be sure not to lose any of these bolts as they will be needed for putting on new pedals.

Are mountain bike pedals reverse thread?

Remember, the left pedal spindle is reverse threaded. Turn it clockwise to remove the pedal when facing the crank arm. The right side is normal, so turn it anti-clockwise to loosen it.^[1]

Which way do thread pedals go?

Right pedals loosen by turning counter-clockwise, left pedals loosen clockwise. Apply bike grease to the new pedals and screw them in at an even 90 degree angle. Right pedals tighten by turning clockwise, left pedals tighten counter-clockwise. Screw in until each pedal is fully inserted and tight; then hit the road!^[2]

Are all MTB pedals universal?

Bike pedals are not all the same size. Bike pedal sizes vary due to the crank arms dictating the specific sized threads that it will take; this is mainly dependent on the age of the bike as well as the type of bike that you have.^[3]

Why is left pedal reverse threaded?

The real reason for left-hand threads is to prevent unthreading due to a phenomenon called “precession,” which is not obvious. The force your foot exerts on the pedal tends to make the threaded pedal rod roll around inside the threaded hole.^[4]

How do you strap bike pedals?

Ride the bike in a open area with little traffic. Flip the pedals so the strap is facing down. Practice pulling your foot back and then moving it forward to flip the pedal around. Your foot will slide into the strap naturally as the pedal flips.^[5]

Which pedal is anti-clockwise?

The most important thing you need to know about pedals is that the threads are different between left and right sides. The drive-side pedal has a right-hand thread — the usual kind, that you turn clockwise to tighten. But the left hand side has a left hand thread, so it tightens anti-clockwise.^[6]

What tool do I need to remove bike pedals?

Most pedals are fitted and removed using either a 15mm spanner or an 8mm Allen (hex) key. If your pedals have parallel faces on the spindle between the pedal body and the crank, you will need a 15mm spanner. Any 15mm spanner will work provided it’s not too fat to fit between the crank and pedal body.^[7]

Which way are MTB pedals threaded?

It is important to remember that pedal threads are different from left side and right side. The right side pedal has a right-hand thread (removes counterclockwise, installs clockwise). The left side pedal has a left-hand thread (removes clockwise, installs counterclockwise).^[8]

Why do pedals have different threads?

Right pedals are right-hand thread and left pedals are left-hand thread so that they self-tighten as you ride, preventing them from falling off — IF your bearings are working.^[9]

Do bike pedals have different threads?

Bike pedal threads are a tricky thing to get your head around at first, there are a number of different types, and the left and right pedals have different pedal threads as well. This makes it all too easy to damage the thread on either the pedal or the crank, which can be a very costly mistake.^[10]

Are bigger bike pedals better?

The primary reason to get a bigger pedal is to add confidence when riding aggressively. For the same reason you’ll see metal pins in the pedal to help grip the sole of your shoe. Image going over a jump and your feet lose contact with the pedal ever so slightly.^[11]

How do you tell if my pedals are 1 2 or 9 16?

If the cranks are THREE PIECES, meaning two crank arms bolted to a spindle, it will be 9/16 thread on the pedals. If the crank is ONE piece through a large bottom bracket housing, it’s 1/2 thread.^[12]