What is the recommended method for checking wheel bearing play?

The recommended method for checking wheel bearing play involves jacking the trailer and checking for lateral movement in the wheel. This approach is effective because it allows the technician to accurately assess the amount of play in the wheel bearings by physically manipulating the wheel. When the trailer is elevated, the technician can grasp the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions and push and pull to feel for any movement. Excessive play indicates that the wheel bearings may be worn or improperly adjusted, which is crucial for maintaining safe and efficient operation of the trailer.

Visual inspections alone do not provide a comprehensive understanding of bearing play since they cannot reveal internal issues or precise measurements. Checking the weight of the trailer is unrelated to assessing wheel bearing play, as weight does not directly indicate bearing condition. Spinning the wheel and listening for noise might help identify issues like a dry or damaged bearing, but it does not effectively measure play or axial movement, which is vital for assessing the overall condition of the wheel bearings. Therefore, the correct method focuses on the physical assessment of lateral movement for a thorough evaluation.