Symptoms
- A squeak or creak every time you press or release a pedal
- A clunk or knocking sound when the pedal comes back up
- The noise changes when you press the pedal partway
- Squeaking that started after the piano was moved or the floor was changed
Likely causes
Dry pivot points
The pedal levers and trapwork rods pivot on pins and bushings that dry out over time and start to squeak.
Worn felt or leather cushions
Small felt and leather pads stop metal and wood from touching. When they wear out or fall off, parts click, knock or squeak.
Loose screws and brackets
Vibration loosens the screws holding the pedal box, lyre or trapwork, letting parts rub and creak.
Springs and contact points
The return spring or the point where a rod meets a lever can rub and squeak, especially after the piano has been moved.
What you can safely check yourself
- 1Press one pedal at a time slowly to find which one squeaks, and listen near the floor versus inside the case.
- 2On an upright, remove the lower front panel (usually held by a spring clip or turn button) and watch the trapwork rods and levers while a helper presses the pedal.
- 3On a grand, look at the pedal lyre under the piano: check that the lyre braces are snug against the floor and the lyre screws are tight.
- 4Tighten any obviously loose screw on the pedal box or lyre by hand with the correct screwdriver, without forcing it.
- 5Check whether a felt or leather pad has fallen to the floor of the case; keep it for the technician.
What not to do
- Don't spray WD-40, oil or silicone into the piano — it drips onto felts, collects dust and can travel into the action.
- Don't bend pedal rods or springs to stop the noise; it changes how the pedal works and can stop the dampers lifting properly.
- Don't remove the grand's lyre without support; it holds part of the pedal system and must be refitted correctly.
Quick fixes vs. call a pro
You can usually handle it
- Find which pedal makes the noise
- Tighten a clearly loose lyre or bracket screw
- Adjust the lyre braces on a grand
- Collect any fallen felt pads
Call a technician
- Clean and lubricate pivots with the right products
- Replace worn felts and leathers
- Fix noisy springs and bushings
- Regulate the pedal so it works smoothly
What a technician will do
A technician traces the noise, cleans the pivots and applies piano-specific lubricant only where metal meets metal, replaces worn felt and leather cushions, and tightens or rebushes loose parts. On a grand the lyre braces and pedal rods are adjusted at the same time. This is usually quick, often 30–60 minutes, and is easy to combine with a regular tuning visit.
A piano holds about 18–20 tonnes of string tension. If a fix means opening the action, turning tuning pins or working near the strings, leave it to a technician.
In Israel
In apartments with tiled floors, which are common in Israel, a grand's lyre braces can lose contact with the floor after cleaning or moving furniture, causing creaks. Coastal humidity can also rust pedal springs and pins.