My heel pads were worn out after a long time and needed replacing but I couldn’t get the screws to turn to take them off.
The screw driver just didn’t recognize what was once a nice Phillip’s head screw. What was left was a war torn stump battered by gravel and my heavy body over the last few years. I don’t walk much in my cycling shoes so quite happy that these heel pads lasted 5 years.
I went to TCC to ask for advice on how to get the screw out and here I will demonstrate the best advice I got and how I did it.
Not in possession of a hacksaw I picked one up on the way home from work today. I needed one anyway as have a lot of small jobs around the house that require one and now there is no excuse not to repair those items as well.
Cycling was the only important activity however that actually warranted buying an actual hacksaw. Having broken steel gates in the garden that let the dogs out to terrorize the neighbors just didn’t rank high enough to buy one, until now.
I took my first shoe and held it over the edge of the dining room table. No need to go outside for this delicate operation.
Managed not to cut myself as I tried to put a cut/groove through the center of the screw as well as through the surrounding red rubber that encased the screw head.
Not sure how deep to go, I didn’t go deep at all.
On inspection I could see I was not even through the center but not too bad. I put a drop of oil on the screw and applied the screw driver. The screw turned like it wasn’t even stuck at all. The vibration of the saw may have helped wiggle it free and the oil helped deliver the baby.
On my second attempt I was more careful to get the center. And I did. A perfect cesarean delivery. Mother and twins are doing fine.
After inspecting the old pads I noticed a slight difference to the new ones. Two nibs protruding. My old shoes have no holes for these. I managed to amputate these 4 deformed appendages and install the new pads.
Make sure you buy the correct heel pad as they come in at least two shapes. As you can see by the red rubber shape and the protruding nibs, it appears that I bought the wrong ones. The grey plastic though is the exact same shape and after cutting the nibs off it fit perfectly. I took my shoes with me to the shop but for some reason left them in the car when I walked in.
Even after coming out of the shop and having a look, I still thought I had bought the same ones.
If in doubt take your shoes into the shop when you get the replacements…they may even put them on for you.
More fun to do it yourself too.
Very easy….