Asbestos Brake Pad

Asbestos brake pads were one of the most widespread automotive applications of asbestos, valued for their exceptional heat resistance, friction stability, and durability under extreme thermal stress. Chrysotile (white asbestos) was the predominant fibre type, typically comprising 30 to 70 percent of the pad by weight, bonded with phenolic resin and other fillers.

Manufactured from the early 1920s onward, asbestos brake pads became standard equipment on virtually every passenger car, truck, and commercial vehicle worldwide. Major brands including Bendix, Ferodo, and Don produced millions of sets annually. Peak usage occurred during the 1950s and 1960s when the global vehicle fleet expanded rapidly and no viable substitute materials existed.

The primary danger of asbestos brake pads lies in the fine dust generated through normal braking. Each application of the brakes grinds the pad surface against the disc rotor, releasing microscopic asbestos fibres into the surrounding air. A particularly hazardous exposure route was the common mechanic practice of using compressed air to blow out accumulated brake dust from drum assemblies and caliper housings. This practice created dense, airborne fibre clouds in enclosed workshop spaces and was responsible for significant occupational exposure among automotive mechanics, brake technicians, and body shop workers.

Studies have demonstrated elevated rates of mesothelioma and asbestosis among brake repair workers, particularly those employed before the adoption of wet-cleaning methods and HEPA-filtered vacuum systems in the 1980s and 1990s. When new and intact, asbestos brake pads are classified as non-friable because the fibres are tightly bound in resin. However, as the pads wear through normal use, the material becomes progressively more friable, shedding loose fibres readily. This transition from non-friable to friable during the product lifecycle makes brake pads especially insidious.

Although most industrialised nations have now banned asbestos friction products, the United States has never enacted a comprehensive ban, and some developing countries continue to manufacture and import asbestos brake pads. Legacy pads remain in service on older vehicles worldwide, and stockpiled replacement parts occasionally surface in the aftermarket supply chain.