I’ve posted numerous times on brakes and wheel bearing maintenance. There’s the mechanical aspect and the mental or peace of mind aspect.
I’d heartily agree that at this time probably nothing needs done. If you had unseated bearings you’d probably be seeing uneven or irregular tire wear by 4,000 miles. So as mentioned if you don’t want to
“tear em down” first check the tire pressure. Second get or use a tread depth gauge and see if there’s any uneven wear. Next,
As mentioned, jack the trailer up so the wheels will spin. Try to rock the tire and wheel assembly side to side as top to bottom. There should be no “play”. Finally in a quiet place, spin the tire and wheel with your hands. Listen for grinding or a rumbling noise. Shouldn’t hear anything. You might hear a light
“Ching, ching ching” sound as the wheel spins. This is an indication that your brake shoes are making a momentary contact with the brake drum which is often not perfectly round. It also indicates that without the brakes receiving the
Electric current to the magnet, the brakes are properly adjusted and needing minimal travel for the shoes to contact the drums. This is good.
After ascertaining all of the visual checks, audio checks and the “feel” you have done about all you can without putting a “wrench” on things.
During the pandemic we did not put many miles on our Escape
Many 3 to 4 thousand for the year. So no maintenance was pulled. However the previous two years we pulled 17,000 miles each year. Those years I checked the amount of lining left in the shoes and greased the bearings. Properly installed adjusted and having your controller set where the trailer handles its braking and the tow vehicle handles HERS, because she is a lady. You will not have excessive brake wear.
Brakes should go 50,000 miles or better. Both of our Escapes, bought used, did. I think the 21 had well in excess of 60K on the brakes when I changed them out a couple years ago. They still had some meat on them but for that old nagging “peace of mind”‘I changed them out.
I also run Timken bearings however I run Dexter seals and Dexter brakes. I buy from Midwest Wheel because they are in my home town and some
days there’s a free donut and the pop machine on free vend.
I’m a cheap date.
Hope this helps. And I hope you have a great camping experience every time out.
Iowa Dave