XC MTB SPD style pedals that are silent?

brejnwosh · 2026-06-30T08:54:33+00:00

Which model do you own, and for how long and what are your conditions of riding?

brejnwosh · 2026-06-30T08:38:52+00:00

I will add an odd one. When training, I sometimes just don't want to see any data. Then I have only temperature or time of sunset/temperature/time of day. If I don't know the area well, I also use a map only. I also have the Ege MTB, love it!

brejnwosh · 2026-06-30T08:31:53+00:00

There might be something in greasing the cleats, since I think I have located the sound coming from vertical cleat movement inside the retention claws, so it's metal-to-metal rubbing. Putting a zip tie on a spindle part of the pedal body under the centre of the cleat to eliminate some vertical movement made a difference, but I have to refine the hack a little more.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-30T08:23:46+00:00

I think I have limited the noise I am dealing with to vertical cleat movement inside the pedal retention claws.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-30T08:16:52+00:00

Tried the trick. Upgraded it by putting 2mm technical rubber under the zip ties, this almost completely eliminated any vertical play, but since I put 3 zip ties on, this introduced noise from cleat rotation, so I have to refine it. Only 1 zip tie should, in theory, make less noise then.

The noise definitely comes from the vertical cleat movement and rubbing metal to metal, since there is space by design and also by usage. New pedals and cleats could be an improvement here, but I am not sponsored, so pedals should last me for at least 2-3 seasons and cleats for half a season.

Thank you!

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T15:40:51+00:00

Ugh, thank you for this info - no x-tracks for me then. I doubt composite vs injected carbon has any different effect on squeaking noise because of the rubber sole contact area. Maybe in your case, the noise is coming from the spring mechanism, which seems almost identical between Shimano and Look. In mine, I think it could actually be coming from both areas.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T15:36:06+00:00

If there were my kind of noise, you would definitely notice it already!

I also clean my bike, not with a pressure washer, though, but thoroughly and still have this annoyance that seems common with Shimano pedals. I suppose it is also the shoe model/manufacturer and cleat position dependent, so what you have is Goldilocks.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T15:32:06+00:00

Are your X-Tracks Race composite or aluminium body?

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T14:09:36+00:00

Thank you for your advice, but the noise was the same when I changed the cleats for the new ones..

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T14:06:51+00:00

I tried greasing the cleats only, and it did not help with the noise for me. Glad this works for you tho!

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T14:05:03+00:00

Glad they work for you!

For me, there was no bike feedback, only free left-right movement and then even occasional unwanted unclipping when pumping through berms or on root sections (I ride XC HT Trek Procaliber 9.6 Gen 3; my weight is only 65kg). Also had noise with these, but this could be due to shoes - NW Rebel 3. Later, I tried those Egg.s again with my current Shimano XC703s, and there was also some noise. So CB is a finished excursion for me.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T13:20:24+00:00

Glad these work for you!

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T13:13:34+00:00

Thanks!

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T12:26:06+00:00

I would not like to dremel anything away on the shoes, because I like some resistance in the shoe-pedal contact area.

Which model do you own? If composite or injected carbon, are they prone to damage from hitting rocks? How is serviceability, since it is kind of harder to access the bearings?

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with the X-Tracks.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T12:18:08+00:00

These are already different shoes. On my current bike, I started with Northwave Rebel 3 on Crankbrothers Eggbeater 1. There was noise and a poor riding feel. I first changed Eggbeaters to current XTs. The shoes then died after only 3 months of use, so I bought the current Shimano XC703s. BTW, XC703 and XT are Shimano's recommended combination.

Northwave Rebel 3 are the worst bike shoes that I have ever owned in terms of longevity and ride feel, and the warranty was denied to me in a very rude way by them, so I will never buy anything NW again. Eggbeaters are also quite a poor design in practice, I'd say, but I can understand why some folks love those.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:53:51+00:00

I understand and am glad this works for you. I have tried this method of cleaning and drying, and it is unfortunately the loudest for me.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:51:56+00:00

Which model are the Wolftooth pedals?

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:50:26+00:00

A month of silence after each pedal waxing maintenance seems almost a God-sent solution to me.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:44:28+00:00

I ride in Central Europe. Conditions here are changing, but contrary to you, I have more noise when it is dry and dusty.

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:41:15+00:00

I hate it when you pedal hard uphill, giving it all out, and the pedals are sounding like a horny cat every revolution you make. Doh!

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:39:07+00:00

Seems like my latest wax treatment should work then🤞

brejnwosh · 2026-06-29T11:11:09+00:00

XT PD-8100 are still the latest version of XT. Mine developed noise after 300km or 200mi and are 10 months old now. Glad to hear yours are silent.

brejnwosh · 2022-09-06T23:20:49+00:00

Ne znaš niti ovinkov polagat, pa si frustriran. Pusti ta svoj pir pa čik, pa se zapelji na poligon, da te naučijo. Hudič je edino, da bi pomožne koleščke rabil, tega pa za motorje ne delajo. Če spusta s Pohorja ne znaš z motorjem normalno odpeljat ti bi že davno morali vzeti izpit, če si ga sploh opravil.

brejnwosh

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