Asbestos Brakes

Concerned about Asbestos Brakes? Contrary to popular belief, asbestos is still being used in brake pads and shoes. While most if not all US companies have stopped using the material, there are some foreign companies that still use asbestos in their brake pads and shoes. There are no current laws in the United States that ban the use of asbestos in brake components. And since you can’t tell if the brake parts you’re working is made with asbestos, it’s a good idea to treat every brake component like it contain asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that is highly heat resistant, chemical and thermal stable with a high tensile strength. These qualities make it a good material for use in automotive brake pads, shoes, clutch discs and gaskets. The thin and lightweight asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems when inhaled into the lungs. Fibers embedded in the lung tissue over time may result in lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.

• Asbestosis [as-be-stoh-sis] is a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis.

• Lung Cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia. People who have been exposed to asbestos and also are exposed to some other cancer-causing product, such as cigarette smoke, have a greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who have only been exposed to asbestos.

• Mesothelioma [mez-uh-thee-lee-oh-muh] is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.

It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos related condition to appear. Smoking increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.

Rules for working with asbestos brakes:

• NEVER use compress air to clean brake dust. For the home mechanic without specialized equipment, wet the dust down and wash it away with brake cleaner aerosol spray. Catch the run-off and dispose of it. Don’t use a shop vacuum to suck up brake dust, it doesn’t have a filter good enough to catch the asbestos fibers.

• It’s a good idea to wear gloves to avoid contacting brake dust. It also makes clean up much easier!

• Avoid taking work clothes inside the home or tracking dust through the house after performing brake or clutch work to prevent exposing your family to dust particles that may contain asbestos. Wash soiled clothes separately from other clothes.

• The EPA recommends that asbestos brakes waste be double bagged and thrown away.

Return from Asbestos Brakes to DIY Brake Repair Home to DIY Brake Repair