Asbestos Brake/Clutch Dust and DIY safety | FerrariChat
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Asbestos Brake/Clutch Dust and DIY safety

Discussion in '308/328' started by wildcat326, Aug 16, 2015.

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  1. wildcat326

    wildcat326 Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2012
    1,803
    Chicago, IL
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #1 wildcat326, Aug 16, 2015
    I was searching for a garage HEPA filter to handle gas/oil/lubricant smells, when I came across an EPA document and dozens of web sites stating that brake dust - and more commonly today - clutch housing dust is laden with asbestos, and should be handled with extreme precautions (specifically, in a a vacuum chamber placed around the brake), never sprayed down or blown off while cleaning, etc.

    So, uhhh, I just spent my weekend fiddling in my wheel well taking apart my brakes and suspension, and am about to pull the bell housing to do the clutch. Followed very shortly by cutting off header heat shields to ceramic coat the headers. Exactly how worried do I/we all need to be?

    This question is aimed at the professional mechanics and experts here.
     
  2. Bell Bloke

    Bell Bloke Formula 3

    Dec 6, 2012
    1,839
    UK
    #2 Bell Bloke, Aug 17, 2015
    I didn't think they still used asbestos in brake/clutch linings at all these days, all that stopped in the 1980s. But if you are worried just do it outside with a decent filter mask on and damp down everything with water whilst you are doing the job. But like I say in Europe I haven't seen asbestos in anything for years.
    Regards Bell.
     
  3. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    #3 Steve King, Aug 17, 2015
    Government over kill. Unless you are working in industry where you inhale dust all day your exposure is minimal. Think about it as any material inhaled in large amounts would hurt you. Do you use paint thinners or brake/carb cleaner or do you ever get gas on your hands. If so you got the same health exposure . Just be careful and you'll be OK
     
  4. Bell Bloke

    Bell Bloke Formula 3

    Dec 6, 2012
    1,839
    UK
    #4 Bell Bloke, Aug 17, 2015
    I'm with you Steve, people upto the 80s were working on cars for years and none of them got Asbestosis that I can recall reading about.
     
  5. wildcat326

    wildcat326 Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2012
    1,803
    Chicago, IL
    Full Name:
    Justin
    #5 wildcat326, Aug 17, 2015
    I figured, but just happened upon all this while searching for an air filter. Sounded awfully ominous. Okay, was planning to scrub the housing outside anyway.

    That said, apparently SOME cars - including Land Rover - still use asbestos brakes, and assuming I have an original clutch from the '70s, the bell housing would be full of it.
     
  6. Saabguy

    Saabguy Formula 3

    Mar 28, 2012
    1,785
    Shreveport, LA
    #6 Saabguy, Aug 17, 2015
    As a certified Asbestos Abatement Supervisor… no really, I are one… if you had to have non-friable asbestos removed the procedure is to wet it with a soapy water solution inside a plastic bag, peel it away from things, then send it to the EPA registered landfill.

    So, spray with soapy water and wash it down the drain. REMEMBER, it is a naturally occurring mineral and the bulk of the folks who became ill were in an area where the concentration was so high that they could NOT see their hand at the end of their arm and they had NO masks. So, don't snort brake dust or dust in your transmission and you should be just fine.

    Also, HEPA (High Efficiency PARTICULATE Airfilter) is for particulates only, for smells you will need something with an activated carbon filter to remove odors.
     

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