Brake Linings — Asbestos Exposure Crosswalk
What This Equipment Is
Brake linings are the friction material bonded or riveted to the metallic shoe or pad inside a vehicle or industrial-machine brake assembly. From the early twentieth century through the 1980s — and in some replacement-parts markets considerably longer — the dominant brake-friction formulation was an asbestos / phenolic-resin composite. Asbestos fiber gave the lining its critical combination of heat resistance, dimensional stability, and predictable friction coefficient under thermal load.
Brake linings appear in:
- Passenger cars and light trucks — drum brake shoes, disc brake pads
- Heavy trucks and buses — drum brake linings (riveted block linings)
- Locomotives — railroad brake shoes
- Off-road and construction equipment — heavy-duty brake systems
- Industrial machinery brakes — overhead cranes, hoists, mill drives
- Aircraft brake systems (selected aircraft, era-dependent)
Why Brake Work Was a High-Exposure Activity
Brake-lining exposure happens primarily during brake service: removing the wheel, blowing out the brake drum or rotor housing with compressed air or a brush, and replacing the worn lining with a fresh asbestos lining. Each of those three steps releases respirable chrysotile from the dust accumulated during normal braking.
Compressed-air “blow-out” of brake drums was the universal industry practice for decades and is the single most-cited high-exposure brake activity in litigation. Grinding of new linings to match the drum or rotor radius — a routine pre-installation step in commercial fleet shops — released additional fiber from the cut surfaces.
The trades exposed extend well beyond professional auto mechanics: locomotive engineers and rail-yard mechanics, fleet maintenance workers, heavy-equipment operators doing field brake repair, weekend backyard mechanics, and brake-shop counter staff working in dusty environments.
Manufacturers Named in Brake-Lining Litigation
- Bendix / Honeywell — Bendix brake products
- Raybestos-Manhattan — Raybestos brake linings
- Abex / Pneumo Abex — Abex brake linings
- Borg-Warner — friction products
- Allied Signal — Bendix successor
- Ferodo (subsidiary of Federal-Mogul) — brake linings
- Carlisle Companies — friction products
- EIS Brake Parts — brake linings
Documented Product References
Images sourced from publicly available product-identification reference materials. Inclusion does not constitute a finding of liability against any company.
Trust Funds That May Apply
- Federal-Mogul Asbestos PI Trust (covers multiple brake-related entities)
- Combustion Engineering 524(g) Asbestos PI Trust (where applicable to related entities)
- Pneumo Abex Asbestos PI Trust
- Raybestos-Manhattan Asbestos PI Trust
- Honeywell / Bendix related claim mechanisms
Trades Most Exposed at Brake Work
Automotive mechanics, heavy-truck and bus mechanics, fleet maintenance workers, locomotive and rail-yard mechanics, heavy-equipment field service, brake-shop counter and grinding-room workers, and home mechanics.
Jobsites in the Network Documenting Brake Work
- Vehicle fleet maintenance facilities and rail yards at most large industrial sites
- Service garages, brake shops, and dealerships in every Missouri community
Compiled from publicly filed asbestos litigation, EPA / state-DNR records, and industry-publication histories. Product and company references reflect what has been alleged or documented in publicly filed litigation. This page does not constitute a finding of liability against any company. Not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.