Bike Pedals & Cranks
This is a small hub covering jobs where the tool and the thread direction matter more than the technique. Pedals and cranks are simple components, and they are also where a moment's inattention writes off a crank arm.
If you read only one thing here, make it the thread direction: the left pedal is reverse-threaded, and forcing it the wrong way is the most common expensive mistake in home bicycle maintenance.
What you'll learn
- Remove pedals from either side without damaging the crank arm
- Free a pedal that has seized into an aluminium crank
- Fit pedals with the correct grease and torque, and avoid cross-threading
- Identify which crank type your bike has before buying a tool
- Use a crank puller correctly on square taper and splined cranks
Guides in this topic
- How to Remove Bike Pedals
Which way bike pedals unscrew, why the left one is reverse-threaded, and how to free a seized pedal without wrecking the crank arm.
- How to Install Bike Pedals
Fit bike pedals without cross-threading: which pedal goes where, how much grease, starting the thread by hand, and the right torque.
- How to Remove a Bike Crank
Identify your crank type first, then remove it: self-extracting, external bearing, or square taper needing a crank puller. Plus what not to do.
Common questions
Which way do bike pedals unscrew?
The right pedal unscrews counter-clockwise and the left clockwise, because the left is reverse-threaded. The reliable rule is that both loosen when you turn the wrench towards the back of the bike.
Do I need a special tool to remove a crank?
For square taper and splined cranks, yes — a crank puller matched to the axle type. Modern external-bearing cranks usually need only an 8 mm Allen key and a plastic preload cap tool.
Why do my pedals creak?
Usually a dry thread rather than a loose one. Removing, cleaning, greasing and refitting the pedals fixes most pedal-area creaks.
Related topics
- Chain and drivetrain
Clean, lube, shorten, remove and replace a bike chain, plus cassette cleaning and dropped-chain fixes — including the wear figure that saves your cassette.
- Cleaning and tune-ups
Wash your bike without forcing water into the bearings, and work through a full home tune-up checklist that finds problems before they leave you walking.