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I often get an annoying squeak when pedalling uphill from the interface of my spds to the sole of the shoe ( I use Shimano DT spd pedals with a platform which has a flat metal area the sole rests on). Any ideas on how to stop this? Have temporarily tried a small bit of grip tape which seemed to work until the tape fell off, so before I get the contact adhesive for attempt 2 I hoped there’s a simpler solution. Cheers.
I've seen candle wax suggested.
Very annoying. I get it on my XT pedals but not the Deore ones. I sense a downgrade coming on.
When I get that, I give the springs a quick spray of gt85... seems to stop it for a while.
Yep, I rub a small tea light candle over all surfaces of the pedals, seems to stop squeaks and creaks for a little while at least. I keep meaning to pack it in my toolkit for mid-ride squeaks!
There is also an interesting theory that squeaks, clicks and rattling from SPDs is indicative of a less than perfect pedal stroke, I know if I concentrate on applying equal pressure through each leg all the rattling from the left pedal stops AND my pedal stroke feels 'better' (don't ask me to try and explain it). Perhaps easier on road and gravel when you're not constantly bouncing and moving about though.
I use a cotton bud to put a dab of grease on the front and back contact points of the cleat, and that seems to sort it.
Blob of grease here too - which of course then deposits onto the sole of your shoe and the floor of the caff.
Anyway I've fixed it permanently now with a pair of secondhand Hope Union pedals.
You hope you've fixed it.
Well yes, but the shoe/pedal contact is very solid - as good as road pedals really.
Mine do this too. All my shoes on all my bikes. Every combination. I prefer to have my pedals set at the lowest possible release tension, but that makes them even worse. Regular nifter of GT85 and a wipe down seems to be the best cure for me.
The very hard metal of the cleat starts to wear grooves into the pedal body. I have noticed that it is not at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions that are the active parts of the cleats, but more the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. On the outboard side of the pedal it is on the steel plate that passes over the axle, between the 2 screws. On the inboard side TT here is only one screw, but the damage ends up over the axle there too. The edge of the cleat it thin here, as there is a void on the inside of both sides where the oval plate can move to allow for lateral positioning.
I have worn a number of pairs of pedals like this and there is no solution other than binning them. The squeak on my commuting bike drove me round the twist.
Flats!?
I tend to put this down to wear between the pedal body and the shoe. I recently bought some of the pontoons designed for Shimano's newer S-Phyre gravel shoes. I cut a bit of my sole away and fitted the new things and the squeak is more it less gone. Still old pedals though so not perfect, but much better.
