Bike pedals have to do a lot of work. They continually revolve when pedalling, take your weight when you’re standing up to cycle and are even being used when you freewheel. All this work means that they wear out, often before other components. In today’s article we are going to look at bike pedals replacement.
Whether your trusty pedals have worn out or you fancy an upgrade, bike pedals replacement is a task undertaken by many cyclists. In this article we are going to look at removing and fitting pedals correctly.
A few facts about bike pedals.
- Pedals come in different designs and materials. The cheapest ones have a plastic body so tend to have the shortest life span. The next in terms of price and longevity have a metal body and a plastic cage. Next are pedals with both the cage and the body made of metal, but the cage is bolted onto the body. The bolts have a tendency to loosen, so if you choose these give the bolts a tighten every month or so. After that you get pedals made with metal and welded together , sometimes with studs to stop your feet slipping or a mechanism to trap a cleat that’s mounted on the shoe.
The thread that screws into the crank comes in two different sizes. The wider size is 9/16″. These are found on most adult bikes and occasionally on a child’s bike. The narrower size is 8/16″ or commonly known as 1/2″. These are found on many children’s bikes, BMX bikes and some basic adults’ bikes.
Pedals come in pairs. Although they look this same they have opposite threads. The right pedal has a right hand thread and fits on the side where the bike chain and gears are. The left pedal has a left hand thread and fits on the side without the gears.
Watch our video here if your not sure which pedal is left and which is right.
Basically, to keep your feet horizontal while pedalling forward. The pedal bodies have to spin in the opposite direction to the motion of the cranks. When the pedal body spins backwards the pedal axle is actually moving forward together with the crank. This is called mechanical precession. Because the right hand pedal thread tightens clockwise (the same direction as the right crank moving forward) it would undo itself on the left side because the left crank spins anticlockwise when moving forward. 
Tools required to replace bike pedals.
- 15mm pedal spanner / 6mm or 8mm allen key.
Make sure that you have a spanner that is fit for purpose. A proper pedal spanner will have a long handle for leverage and the jaws are thicker and rounded at the end to fit snuggly onto the axle. If you use the wrong spanner the jaws can “spring” and slip off, damaging the tool and potentially yourself.
Some pedals don’t have the flats at the end of the thread and instead are fitted using a 6mm or 8 mm allen key on the inside
- Grease or anti-seize. This stops the threads seizing.
Replacing bike pedals – removing the right hand pedal.
- Lean the bike so that the right hand side is facing you.
- Set up the crank somewhere between 4 o’clock and 6 o’clock.
Using a pedal spanner.
- Slot it onto the flats. The tool has 2 jaws. Use the jaw that sets the tool as horizontal as possible pointing towards the back of the bike.
- Stand next to the bike, lean your left armpit onto the saddle and grasp the left crank.
- Now grab the pedal spanner with your right hand and push down while simultaneously pulling up on the left hand crank.
- Now grip the flats on the pedal axle with your fingers and undo the pedal anti-clockwise.
- If there is resistance use the spanner to remove the pedal.
If the spanner doesn’t budge.
- Stand next to the bike leaning on the saddle.
- Pull both the brake levers.
- Put your right foot onto the right pedal and put your left foot onto the spanner and start to push down.
- Once the pedal loosens, remove the spanner.
- If it still doesn’t budge, then you will need to seek further help.
Using an allen key.
- fit the correct size tool into the back of the pedal, as horizontal as possible pointing towards the back of the bike.
- Stand next to the bike leaning on the saddle.
- Pull both the brake levers.
- Put your right foot onto the right pedal and put your left foot onto the allen key and push down.
- Once loosened remove the allen key.
- Holding the pedal with one hand, use the longer end of the allen key to unscrew the pedal anti-clockwise until it comes out.
- If it still doesn’t budge, then you will need to seek further help.
Replacing bike pedals – removing the left hand pedal.
- Lean the bike so that the right hand side is facing you.
- Set up the crank somewhere between 6 o’clock and 8 o’clock.
Using a pedal spanner.
- Slot it onto the flats so that the tool sits as horizontal as possible pointing towards the back of the bike.
- Stand next to the bike, lean your right armpit onto the saddle and grasp the right crank.
- Now grab the pedal spanner with your left hand and push down while simultaneously pulling up on the right hand crank.
- Now grip the flats on the pedal axle with your fingers and undo the pedal clockwise. If there is resistance use the spanner to remove the pedal.
If the spanner doesn’t budge.
- Stand next to the bike leaning on the saddle.
- Pull both the brake levers.
- Put your left foot onto the left pedal and put your right foot onto the spanner and start to push down.
- Once the pedal loosens, remove the spanner.
- If it still doesn’t budge, then you will need to seek further help.
Using an allen key.
- Fit the correct size tool into the back of the pedal, as horizontal as possible pointing towards the back of the bike.
- Stand next to the bike leaning on the saddle.
- Pull both the brake levers.
- Put your left foot onto the left pedal and put your right foot onto the allen key and push down.
- Once loosened remove the allen key.
- Holding the pedal with one hand, use the longer end of the allen key to unscrew the pedal clockwise until it comes out.
- If it still doesn’t budge, then you will need to seek further help.
Replacing bike pedals – fitting the right hand pedal.
- Make sure you have the correct side pedal.
- Put some grease or anti-seize on the thread.
- If the pedal came with a washer then fit this onto the pedal axle. This washer is designed to protect the crank arm from damage when tightening the pedal.
- Place the pedal on the crank arm hole. If the pedal axle is smaller then the hole in the crank arm then you are fitting a 1/2 inch pedal axle in the 9/16 hole.
- If the pedal spindle is bigger then the hole then you are fitting a 9/16 pedal in the 1/2 inch crank hole.
- While holding the pedal with one hand, gently turn the axle clockwise with the other hand.
If the pedal doesn’t go in easily don’t force it as you may damage the threads. Repeat the process until the pedal thread is in place.
Using a pedal spanner.
- Fit it onto the flats so that it points upwards.
- While holding it with one hand and the pedal in the other spin the crank anticlockwise until the pedal is screwed in all the way.
- Put the pedal arm between 6 o’clock and 8 o’clock.
- Kneel in front of the bike
- Use the jaw that sets the tool as horizontal as possible pointing towards the front of the bike.
- Holding the pedal in one hand use your body weight to push down on the spanner for the final tighten.
Using an allen key.
- Fit the longer end of the tool into the pedal axle hole and screw the pedal in clockwise until it’s screwed in all the way.
- For the final tighten, place the crank arm at 6 o’clock
- Kneel if front of the bike , fit the allen key at about 2 o’clock.
- While holding the pedal with your left hand, push the allen key down for the final tighten.
Replacing bike pedals – fitting the left hand pedal.
- Put some grease or anti-seize on the pedal thread.
- Place the pedal on the hole in the crank arm
- While holding the pedal with one hand, gently turn the axle anticlockwise with the other hand.
Using a pedal spanner.
- Fit the spanner onto the flats so that it points upwards
- While holding it with one hand and the pedal in the other, spin the crank clockwise until the pedal is screwed in all the way.
- Put the pedal between 6 o’clock and 8 o’clock.
- Kneel in front of the bike.
- Use the jaw that sets the tool as horizontal as possible pointing towards the front of the bike.
- While holding the pedal in one hand use your body weight to push down on the spanner for the final tighten.
Using an allen key.
- Fit the longer end of the tool into the pedal axle hole and screw the pedal in anticlockwise until it’s screwed in all the way.
- For the final tighten, place the crank arm at 6 o’clock.
- Kneel in front of the bike, fit the allen key at about 2 o’clock.
- While holding the pedal with your right hand, push the allen key down for the final tighten.
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