Hot take: I stopped using grease on pedal threads and switched to anti-seize

For years I always slapped grease on pedal threads before installing them. Then about 6 months ago I had a set of pedals seize up on a customer's aluminum crank arm. Took me an hour with a torch and a breaker bar to get them off. Now I use anti-seize compound every time, especially on alloy cranks. The difference is night and day for removal later. Anyone else run into this problem with pedal threads binding up?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_holly6d ago

Three years ago I had a customer bring in a bike they bought used. Aluminum cranks with pedals that looked like they had been welded on. Factory grease had dried out completely. I spent two full hours with penetrating oil, a torch, and a six foot pipe on a breaker bar. The left crank arm cracked before the pedal budged. That was the moment I switched to anti-seize and never looked back. I use the silver nickel based stuff on every pedal install now, especially on alloy cranks. It costs like eight bucks a tube and saves you a massive headache down the road.

finley7296d ago

Blew out a cheap pair of flat pedals on my mountain bike last summer, just snapped the spindle clean off. Took it to the shop and the guy there told me the factory probably didn't use any anti-seize, just sent it out with grease that dried up in two seasons. Made me think about all the stuff I've bodged together over the years with just grease or nothing at all. Now I keep a little tube of anti-seize in my toolbox, use it on anything that might get stuck, like seatpost bolts or stem bolts too. Saved me tons of hassle already.