Should You Grease Bike Pedal Threads? What to Use and How

Yes. Grease or anti-seize on the pedal threads is standard practice. Park Tool’s pedal installation guide has you grease the threads of both pedals before they go into the crank, and Crankbrothers’ Eggbeater manual says to grease the threads and then tighten to 25 to 30 ft-lb (34 to 41 N·m). The coating makes the pedals easier to install and easier to remove later.

You only need to do it when a pedal is off the crank: on a new install, or any time you take the pedals off to replace or service them. Pedals that are already on and turning fine don’t need to come off just for grease.

What to put on the threads

Option	What the maker says	Watch out for
Grease (Park Tool lists Polylube)	Park Tool’s pedal guide names Polylube or ASC-1 anti-seize for the threads and says to coat both pedals heavily	Wipe off squeezed-out excess before it collects grit
Anti-seize (Park Tool ASC-1)	Park Tool says it reduces friction in threaded applications for easy assembly and disassembly, lists pedal and bottom bracket threads among its uses, and says it protects against rust and corrosion	Park Tool says some painted surfaces are sensitive to oil and grease, and that ASC-1 can stain fabric; the page lists steel, aluminum and titanium, so ask the crank maker about carbon
Whatever the pedal maker specifies	Crankbrothers’ manual simply says “grease the threads”	Follow the manual that came with your pedals if it names a product

The sources above don’t say that marine, white lithium or any other specific grease is better, so this guide doesn’t rank them. A bike-specific grease or anti-seize from a tool maker like Park Tool matches what their own instructions call for.

How to grease and install pedals

1. Identify each pedal. Look for L and R on the axle or wrench flats. With no markings, the thread direction tells you the side: Park Tool says the left pedal has a left-hand thread, so it loosens clockwise and installs counterclockwise.
2. Clean the threads. Wipe grit and old grease off the pedal threads and out of the crank hole.
3. Coat both pedals. Park Tool’s guide says to grease the threads of both pedals heavily.
4. Start each pedal by hand. Thread the right pedal in clockwise and the left pedal in counterclockwise. If a pedal is hard to start, stop. Park Tool says damaged crank threads can be chased with a tap, and that a pedal bushing kit is the fix if the threads are gone, so back it out and look.
5. Tighten with a wrench. Park Tool gives about 360 inch-pounds (roughly 41 N·m) as typical pedal torque. Crankbrothers specifies 34 to 41 N·m for its pedals. Use the number in your pedal’s manual if you have it.
6. Wipe off excess grease or anti-seize, especially on painted cranks.

Brand-by-brand torque values, plus which way each side turns for removal, are in our guide to removing bike pedals. If the crank itself is the problem, see how to remove a crank without a puller.

Which situation are you in?

Your situation	What to do
Installing new pedals	Coat both threads, start by hand, tighten to the pedal maker’s torque
Pedals are off for a swap or service	Clean and coat the threads again before reinstalling
Pedals on and working, no noise	Leave them alone; there is nothing to gain by removing them
Pedal is stuck and won’t turn out	Stop and use the removal guide linked above, and confirm which way each side turns
Pedal won’t start by hand	Stop and check that it is the correct side; if the crank threads look damaged, use a tap or a pedal bushing kit as Park Tool describes
Creak from the pedal area	Pedals and their threads are one possible source; our creak diagnosis covers the order to check

Common questions

Should you grease bike pedal threads on every bike?

Park Tool and Crankbrothers both call for it in their instructions, and the pedal installation steps are the same idea for any bike with threaded pedals. For carbon cranks, check with the crank maker first.

Is anti-seize the same as grease?

No, they are different products. Park Tool lists both Polylube grease and ASC-1 anti-seize as options for pedal threads.

Does grease go on the pedal bearings too?

That is a different job. The threads are the part that screws into the crank. Bearing service depends on the pedal model, so follow its manual.

How do I get grease out of clothes?

See how to remove bike grease from clothes. Park Tool notes that anti-seize can stain fabric, so keep it off your clothes while you work.

Flat or clipless? The thread prep is the same either way; if you’re still choosing, read clipless pedals vs flat pedals.