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Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.

How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only accessible through complete disassembly.

The service instructions for PD-M520 and PD-M540 are down (at the moment?). These might have the answer.

Other References:

• The 20-Year History of the Shimano PD-M520
• Shimano PD-M520 pedals review
• How to service Shimano SPD pedals: walkthrough guide with video

What's the point?

1. It's nice to know how things work.
2. It's nice to know this can be done in 15 minutes.
3. It's good to know that someone else, if not oneself, can use old pedals. There's no need to throw them in landfill. Donate them.
4. It's a celebration of engineering for Shimano to give us the right-to-repair—even if not everyone will use it.
5. If in 20 years all bikes have electronic shifting, we will miss the days when Bowden cables were universal. Now is the time to demand that, at least, electric bike cables, connectors, and batteries, be standardized. (This is, incidentally, not something that can be done in North America. The EU just required all mobile phones to use USB-C. If you're in the EU, lobby your representative for legislation to be applied 5 or 10 years down the road.

Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.

How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only accessible through complete disassembly.

The service instructions for PD-M520 and PD-M540 are down (at the moment?). These might have the answer.

Other References:

• The 20-Year History of the Shimano PD-M520
• Shimano PD-M520 pedals review
• How to service Shimano SPD pedals: walkthrough guide with video

What's the point?

1. It's nice to know how things work.
2. It's nice to know this can be done in 15 minutes.
3. It's good to know that someone else, if not oneself, can use old pedals. There's no need to throw them in landfill. Donate them.
4. It's a celebration of engineering for Shimano to give us the right-to-repair—even if not everyone will use it.
5. If in 20 years all bikes have electronic shifting, we will miss the days when Bowden cables were universal. Now is the time to demand that, at least, electric bike cables, connectors, and batteries, be standardized. This is, incidentally, not something that can be done in North America. The EU just required all mobile phones to use USB-C. If you're in the EU, lobby your representative for legislation to be applied 5 or 10 years down the road.

Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.

How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only accessible through complete disassembly.

The service instructions for PD-M520 and PD-M540 are down (at the moment?). These might have the answer.

Other References:

• The 20-Year History of the Shimano PD-M520
• Shimano PD-M520 pedals review
• How to service Shimano SPD pedals: walkthrough guide with video

Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.

How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only accessible through complete disassembly.

The service instructions for PD-M520 and PD-M540 are down (at the moment?). These might have the answer.

Other References:

• The 20-Year History of the Shimano PD-M520
• Shimano PD-M520 pedals review
• How to service Shimano SPD pedals: walkthrough guide with video

What's the point?

1. It's nice to know how things work.
2. It's nice to know this can be done in 15 minutes.
3. It's good to know that someone else, if not oneself, can use old pedals. There's no need to throw them in landfill. Donate them.
4. It's a celebration of engineering for Shimano to give us the right-to-repair—even if not everyone will use it.
5. If in 20 years all bikes have electronic shifting, we will miss the days when Bowden cables were universal. Now is the time to demand that, at least, electric bike cables, connectors, and batteries, be standardized. (This is, incidentally, not something that can be done in North America. The EU just required all mobile phones to use USB-C. If you're in the EU, lobby your representative for legislation to be applied 5 or 10 years down the road.

Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.

How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only accessible through complete disassembly.

The service instructions for PD-M520 and PD-M540 are down (at the moment?). These might have the answer.

Pedals can be cleaned with a solvent and an air compressor without removing the races from the spindle.

How is that possible? It would seem that there must be a second set of bearings—one that's only accessible through complete disassembly.

The service instructions for PD-M520 and PD-M540 are down (at the moment?). These might have the answer.

Other References:

• The 20-Year History of the Shimano PD-M520
• Shimano PD-M520 pedals review
• How to service Shimano SPD pedals: walkthrough guide with video