Road cyclist question regarding Look pedals and cleats

[Cheetah8799]

To all you fellow road cyclists.

I have a set of Look pedals (don't remember the model, higher end though) and the red cleats. My old cleats, which weren't used that much, have worn down the contact point with the pedal and the base of the cleat so that they were very smooth. Then when I would pedal, and slightly shift side to side sometimes, the contact point with squeek. So I bought new cleats, they worked great for about 30 miles, then started squeaking! I noticed the new cleats also are worn smooth already.

The paint on the contact point of the pedal is worn off. Right where I think the squeek is coming from.

I've tried using some light oil to lube it, but that only helps for maybe 20 - 30 miles.

I don't think it's being caused by dirt. I make sure my pedals are clean if possible. I think maybe just the worn off paint is causing the problem.


Anyone know how to solve this problem? Does the base of the pedal need to be re-painted?

thanks. I can take some digital pics of the pedals and cleats if anyone thinks they can help.
-Josh

 

[Fausto]

This is a pretty typical thing with Look pedals. You'll just have to mess around with various things to find something that stops the squeak. I've heard of people using oil, Pam, graphite, etc.

Also, make sure all the screws holding your cleat on are nice and tight to at least eliminate that as a possible source of the squeak.

Might want to do some digging on rec.bicycles.tech as well.

 

[Brutuskend]

Also, make sure all the screws holding your cleat on are nice and tight to at least eliminate that as a possible source of the squeak.

That's what I was gong to suggest.

I've used Looks in the past, but I prefer SPD type pedals now. You're much less likely to go skating and land on your ass when walking in them.

 

[sygyzy]

Maybe the squeak is from the screws. Did you coat them with oil/lube/grease before you screwed them in?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

A certain amount of squeaking/creaking is inevitable with Look pedals. This is one of the many bugboos Shimano managed to correct with the SPD-SL design, which I consider the most evolved evolution of the Look design (they are much lighter, they don't creak, and the cleats are much easier to walk on and don't wear nearly as fast). I converted both my bikes from Looks to SPD-SLs about a year ago and haven't looked back.

I recommend rubbing beeswax or candlewax into the affected contact points - this will largely kill the noise.

 

[Cheetah8799]

The screws are tight. I've double checked them, but didn't use any oil or anything on the threads. The squeeking is very obviously coming from the cleats in contact with the pedal. I've tried moving them side to side to create the noise, and it gets really loud if I intentionally do it.

I'll probably try wax next, then maybe graphite. It's such a pain though. I hate to have to buy new Shimano pedals when these Look pedals aren't exactly cheap...

 

[Cheetah8799]

Fausto. Thanks for that link. I found this response out there. My cleats have the same shiny black area on the bottom of the cleat. So I'll try shaving it off. The black is caused by the metal of the pedal wearing down I think. I might try to re-paint that part of the pedal. Not sure how well that will work though.

Yep, mine did the same thing, it was driving me insane. I'd put on
Pledge or Armor All and they wouldn't creak for about 20 miles, then
creak, creak, creak...

I replaced cleats, lubed the crap out of everything before assembly
and rebuilt the pedals, and it would help for a very short time.
Finally after a very careful inspection of the shoe/cleat/pedal
connection, I figured out where the problem is and how to fix it.

Look on the back of the cleat under the lip. You will see shiny black
areas where the pedal clamp has polished the plastic. Take a knife and
lightly scrape away the polished part. Just a light touch is all that
is needed, you don't remove very much plastic at all. That solved it
for me. Whenever I start to hear the onset of creaks again, I just
give the cleat a quick scrape which usually last for several hundred
miles.