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Hello,

There's a guy selling asbestos brake shoes, $140 for a car worth. But I can get cheap non asbestos shoes for $30 or nice ones for $90. Wondering if there's much of a point going for the asbestos ones.

They will be for my Clipper which will not see a lot of driving.

My brother was the real mechanic, he felt that asbestos shoes lasted longer and imparted less wear and heat to the drums than their metallic replacement. They were also quieter. It goes without saying that the health affects are an issue with asbestos. Back to you for the decision.
Bob J.

All the new modern materials that I have tried do not stop my cars as well as old asbestos material. On cars with disc brakes the difference is less . My feeling is asbestos has higher friction rate on application especially with the servo self energizing brakes. Cars with power brakes seem to be less effected or maybe non asbestos need higher pressure. I have had more trouble with current bonded linings coming off the shoes. I do prefer riveted lining Old guy told me the dissipate heat better than bonded. If you look and manual pictures most have rivets just my observation.

I didn't realize that asbestos was still being used at all! Years ago I had the brake shoes for my 1952 Henney-Packard Nu-3-Way relined and they used a relative hard metallic material that barely stopped the 6,200 lb car. In fact, one time on a steep rural road with some parts loaded inside, I was coasting backward and the brakes would not hold it and neither would the clutch so it made for a scary moment, especially as there was a ravine behind. After having them re-relined immediately after with a softer material, it would stop almost on a dime due to huge, wide 12" drums on the front and even bigger 14" drums on the rear.

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Al (acolds), the ability to generate friction is not a unique feature of asbestos. There are a number of other substances that outdo this material. It is the heat resistance of asbestos that prompted automobile manufacturers to use it for brakes and clutches, as well as for hood insulation and seals. That is why asbestos is also found in oven seals.

Stop! Don't read any further! YOU ARE LEAVING THE AMERICAN SECTOR!


When & where I trained as a car mechanic, the carcinogenic effects of inhaled asbestos fibers were already well known. But the countermeasure taken was limited to a glass of free milk for breakfast for anyone who was "machining" (drilling, sawing, grinding) brake pads.

The use of asbestos has been completely banned in Germany since 1995 and in the EU since 2005.


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They are NOS. (From a newer era though)

Thanks everyone. I think I will go with the new type riveted shoes if they are available.