Back in early 1980s, the health conscious Scandinavians were the first to ban asbestos containing products, including brake linings, clutch linings and engine gaskets. This lead to the introduction of nonasbestos substitutes, and the rest is history. In January 1986, our own Environmental Protection Agency proposed a ban on the production of nearly all products containing asbestos in this country. There would also be a ban on importing asbestos-containing products that would gradually phase down over a 10 year period, ending in a total ban by 1996.For awhile, it seemed that asbestos was headed for extinction. Friction material and gasket suppliers worked hard to develop nonasbestos substitutes and gradually made the transition to these new materials. Nobody wanted the liability associated with asbestos. But the EPA proposed ban was eventually overturned in the courts. One reason was that the ban would have put a lot of brake rebuilders as well as others out of business. So to make a long story short, asbestos is still with us. Since there is no way to know if a vehicle has asbestos brake linings or not, it is wise to treat every vehicle as though it might have asbestos linings. And even if a vehicle does not have asbestos linings, there are still concerns that other fibers used in NAO linings may pose the same long term health risks as asbestos!

Wet Wipe Method: This method involves using a spray bottle or other device capable of delivering a fine mist of water, or amended water (water with a detergent), at low pressure to wet all brake and clutch parts. The brakes can then be wiped clean with a cloth.

[blockquote] Work Practice Don'ts for Home Mechanics: It is recommended that you: [/align] [ul][*] Do not use compressed air for cleaning. Compressed air blows dust into the air.[*] Do not clean brakes or clutches with a dry rag, brush (wet or dry), or garden hose.[*] Do not use an ordinary wet/dry vac without a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to vacuum dust. Invisible particles of brake or clutch dust can stay in the air and on your clothes long after a job is complete.[*] Avoid taking work clothing inside the home or tracking dust through the house after performing brake and clutch work to prevent exposing your family to dust particles that may contain asbestos. [/ul] Work Practice Do's for Home Mechanics: It is recommended that you: [ul][*] Use pre-ground, ready-to-install parts.[*] If a brake or clutch lining must be drilled,grooved, cut, beveled, or lathe-turned, use low speeds to keep down the amount of dust created.[*]Use machinery with a local exhaust dust collection system equipped with HEPA filtration to prevent dust exposures and work area contamination.[*]Change into clean clothes before going inside the home and wash soiled clothes separately.[*] Minimize exposure to others by keeping bystanders, as well as food and drinks, away from the work area.[/ul] [/blockquote]