Bicycle Mechanics - Should i lube my pedals?

Is there anything on the pedals that i should lube or grease? And should i lube my cleats too?

Depends on how the pedals are made. A few have sealed bearings but most don't and bearings always like lube. Check the manufacturers web site for suggestions as to appropriate lube and R&R for cleaning and lube. White lubriplate grease in small amounts works well for pedals. Most of the time a bit of study will reveal the disassembly process. Cleats work better if lubed according to Speedplay and Shimano. This is less problematic on road bikes than off road bikes. Grease on bearings and threads, liquid on cleats.
Steve

Is there anything on the pedals that i should lube or grease? And should i lube my cleats too?

Which pedals do you have (brand and model)?

Hi , i have the Shimano R540 pedals .

Hi , i have the Shimano R540 pedals .

I'm familiar with the M540, and I assume they're the same. Yes, I do lubricate the pivoting mechanism towards the rear of the pedal. A a few drops of a chain lube (I use Pro Link) on the pivot is all that is necessary. Any "dry" or light lube would be fine. I typically lube it after every 5 or 6 rides, more if I'm riding in wet conditions.

Ok thanks.

if you go to long without lubing your pedals they get clogged and its difficult to unclip

I agree; I used to shoot mine down occasionally with a silicon-type lube, especially for woods riding. Seemed to keep the goo off a little longer.

I'm familiar with the M540, and I assume they're the same. Yes, I do lubricate the pivoting mechanism towards the rear of the pedal. A a few drops of a chain lube (I use Pro Link) on the pivot is all that is necessary. Any "dry" or light lube would be fine. I typically lube it after every 5 or 6 rides, more if I'm riding in wet conditions.

They're nothing like the M540s. The R540s are the road version, the M is the MTB version. The mechanisms are completely different too. Here:
http://www.81496.com/jouhou/parts/pedal/image/r540.jpg
and here:
http://www.bx3.com/phil/tri/images/shimano-pd-m540-pedals.jpg

The pedal threads should be lubed when installed and the underside of the pedal where the contact patches are should be lubed regularly. I use lithium grease on my Ultegra pedals very regularly because the cleats tend to squeak otherwise. Hope that helps you guys.

They're nothing like the M540s. The R540s are the road version, the M is the MTB version. The mechanisms are completely different too. Here:
http://www.81496.com/jouhou/parts/pedal/image/r540.jpg
and here:
http://www.bx3.com/phil/tri/images/shimano-pd-m540-pedals.jpg

The pedal threads should be lubed when installed and the underside of the pedal where the contact patches are should be lubed regularly. I use lithium grease on my Ultegra pedals very regularly because the cleats tend to squeak otherwise. Hope that helps you guys.
Hi , thanks for the info , but where are the contact patches? And how important it is to lube the cleats , because my cleats are very dirty after every ride and applying oil may make it worse.Thanks a lot.

Contact patches are as follows:
1. Underneath the floating block that grabs your shoe. This aids clipping OUT only.
2. The most important one is underneath the lip of the front of the pedal, where the cleat hooks under. This causes mega-squeak if left unlubed on my set-up.

As for dirt etc. I just clean the cleats off every once in a while with degreaser, same with the pedals and then re-lube. A bit of White Lightning or equivalent never goes amiss under the floating block of the pedal.

Hope that's explained it better. Good luck squeak-busting!

I had the R540's and lubed with a couple of drops of Triflow at the spindle from time to time. I've got DA 7800's now and find that the cleats squeak after being wet. I put a little Armorall on a rag and clean / lube the contact areas of the cleat and pedals. My buddy just hoses them with the stuff. Either method quiets the squeak until the next time I get caught in the rain.

To eliminate squeaks and help reduce friction at the cleat pedal interface, you can use silicone spray, found in most hardware stores for a few bucks a can. Just a quick squirts on the cleat contact surface will help reduce friciton and squeaks. The beauty is silicone dries quickly and will not attract dirt/dust. A 16 ounce can will probably last many years.

They're nothing like the M540s. The R540s are the road version, the M is the MTB version. The mechanisms are completely different too. .


Thanks for clarifying the mountain vs road models. The M and R prefix seem obvious, now.