Cleat shims correct knee tracking and leg length discrepancies, but they add material between your shoe sole and the cleat body. The standard 8mm bolts that ship with Shimano SPD-SL cleats often bottom out before fully engaging the threaded inserts in your shoe. Shimano's Long Cleat Fixing Bolt Set provides 13.5mm M5 bolts that accommodate the extra stack height from shims while maintaining secure cleat attachment. Bike fitters regularly recommend these bolts as part of any shim-based correction because inadequate thread engagement leads to cleats that loosen during rides.

The longer bolts also solve a less common but equally frustrating problem: shoes with recessed cleat mounting pockets. Some shoe manufacturers position the threaded inserts deeper into the sole structure, which leaves standard-length bolts short of full engagement. You end up with cleats that feel tight during installation but work loose after a few rides because only a few threads are actually grabbing. The additional 5.5mm of thread length on these bolts eliminates that issue by reaching the full depth of the insert, so the cleat stays put.

Each set includes 6 bolts, which covers both cleats on a single pair of shoes. If you run shims on multiple bikes or have several pairs of road shoes, you may need additional sets. The bolts work with any Shimano SPD-SL cleat regardless of float option, and they fit the same three-bolt mounting pattern used across the entire SPD-SL pedal range from entry-level models through Dura-Ace. Shimano also offers a 10mm version if your shim setup falls between standard and long bolt requirements.