You can clean the bearings and inspect them. there should be no pitting or rough spots where the balls run in the race. I clean all the grease out I can with a rag. Next I use a small tin and put each bearing assembly in separately. I use some varsol or equivalent and swirl the tin around so the bearing spins inside. This removes all the remaining grease.
When I do my 38 Master brakes, I will have the shoes relined. The lining is brand new from 35 years ago but I don't trust it. I also like the idea of there not being any asbestos in the newer lining material.
