Walk into almost any auto repair shop in America and you’ll find mechanics performing brake jobs. Drums off, pads replaced, rotors resurfaced. It’s routine maintenance—performed millions of times per year across tens of thousands of shops.
What most mechanics don’t know is that they may be breathing asbestos.
Despite decades of warnings and regulations, asbestos-containing brake pads remain legal in the United States. And while domestic manufacturers have largely moved away from asbestos, cheap aftermarket parts—often imported from countries with no asbestos regulations—are flooding the market.
The Brake Dust Problem
Brake pads work by friction. When you press the brake pedal, the pad clamps against the rotor, converting motion into heat. That friction wears down the pad material, creating fine dust.
Before the 1990s, most brake pads contained asbestos—prized for its heat resistance and durability. Each time you braked, tiny asbestos fibers were released into the air. Over the life of a brake pad, pounds of material were worn away, much of it becoming airborne dust.
Mechanics working on those brakes were exposed repeatedly:
- Removing old pads: Disturbing accumulated brake dust
- Cleaning drums and rotors: Blowing or brushing dust into the air
- Grinding rotors: Creating additional particulate
- Installing new pads: Handling potentially asbestos-containing materials
A single brake job on a vehicle with asbestos pads can release millions of microscopic fibers into the shop air.
”I Thought They Banned That”
Most people assume asbestos brake pads were banned decades ago. They weren’t.
The legal reality:
- The EPA attempted to ban asbestos in friction products in 1989
- That ban was overturned by a federal court in 1991
- Asbestos brake pads remained legal to manufacture and sell
- The EPA’s 2024 chrysotile asbestos ban includes exemptions for existing inventory and imported products
- Full enforcement is years away
Meanwhile, asbestos brake pads continue to be:
- Manufactured overseas (especially China, India, and Southeast Asia)
- Imported into the United States
- Sold through automotive parts suppliers
- Installed in vehicles across the country
There is no federal requirement to label brake pads as containing asbestos. A mechanic has no way to know whether the parts they’re installing—or removing—contain the carcinogen.
Where Asbestos Brake Pads Come From
Major U.S. manufacturers largely phased out asbestos from their brake products in the 1990s and 2000s, replacing it with ceramic, metallic, and organic compounds.
But the aftermarket parts industry tells a different story.
The supply chain problem:
- Online retailers sell brake pads from dozens of countries
- Budget-priced “value” brands often source from lowest-cost suppliers
- Countries like China and India have no asbestos bans
- Parts are repackaged and sold without origin disclosure
- Price-sensitive shops and DIYers buy the cheapest option
A 2020 investigation found that multiple brake pad products sold on Amazon and eBay contained asbestos, despite no labeling or disclosure.
The Mechanics at Risk
Auto mechanics face repeated exposure to brake dust over careers spanning decades. The pattern mirrors other asbestos-related occupations:
| Exposure Factor | Auto Mechanics |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Daily brake work |
| Duration | 20-40 year careers |
| Protection | Often minimal or none |
| Awareness | Low—most don’t know the risk |
The latency period for mesothelioma—20 to 50 years—means mechanics exposed in the 1990s and 2000s may not develop disease until the 2030s and beyond.
Risk factors specific to mechanics:
- Compressed air cleaning (blows dust into breathing zone)
- Inadequate ventilation in many shops
- No respiratory protection for “routine” brake work
- Eating/drinking in contaminated work areas
- Take-home exposure on clothing
The DIY Danger
Professional mechanics aren’t the only ones at risk. Millions of Americans perform their own brake jobs, often:
- In enclosed garages with no ventilation
- Using compressed air to clean components
- Without any respiratory protection
- While ordering cheap parts online
A weekend brake job on a car with asbestos pads can expose a DIYer—and their family—to significant asbestos contamination.
Never use compressed air to clean brake components. Use a brake washer or wet cleaning method. Consider wearing a P100 respirator. Dispose of old pads properly—they may be hazardous waste.
The Legal Exposure
Some auto shop owners face a nightmare scenario: liability for exposing employees and customers to asbestos without knowing it.
Potential legal issues:
- Workers’ compensation claims from mechanics who develop disease
- Product liability claims against parts suppliers
- OSHA violations for inadequate protection
- Environmental violations for improper disposal
Shop owners who purchase the cheapest available parts may be unknowingly exposing their workers to a known carcinogen—and creating liability that could surface decades later.
What’s Being Done
Progress is slow but happening:
EPA’s 2024 ban includes vehicle brake blocks among products that will eventually be prohibited. However:
- The rule allows existing inventory to be sold
- Enforcement is phased in over years
- Imported products may slip through
California’s Prop 65 requires warnings for products containing known carcinogens, including asbestos. This has pushed some suppliers to reformulate for the California market.
OSHA regulations require employers to protect workers from asbestos exposure, but enforcement in small auto shops is limited.
Industry initiatives: Some major auto parts retailers have implemented supplier requirements to exclude asbestos from their supply chains. But online marketplaces have no such controls.
How to Protect Yourself
For professional mechanics:
- Ask suppliers about asbestos content in brake products
- Avoid budget-priced offshore brands with unknown origins
- Never use compressed air on brake components
- Use HEPA-filtered brake washers
- Wear P100 respirators when servicing brakes
- Change clothes before going home
- Know your rights under OSHA
For DIYers:
- Buy brake pads from reputable brands with domestic manufacturing
- Assume any brake dust may contain asbestos
- Work outdoors or in well-ventilated areas
- Use wet cleaning methods only
- Wear respiratory protection
- Bag and dispose of old components properly
- Consider whether the savings are worth the risk
For shop owners:
- Implement a brake work safety program
- Document parts suppliers and their asbestos policies
- Provide proper ventilation and cleaning equipment
- Train employees on asbestos risks
- Maintain records in case of future claims
The Bottom Line
Asbestos in brake pads is a known problem that continues because:
- It’s still legal
- It’s hard to detect without testing
- Cheap parts flood the market
- Awareness is low
- Enforcement is weak
Every day, mechanics across America perform brake jobs that may be exposing them to asbestos. Most have no idea. The diseases they may develop won’t appear for decades.
The asbestos brake pad problem isn’t historical—it’s happening right now.
Related Reading
- Auto Mechanics and Mesothelioma Risk
- Asbestos Exposure: A Complete Guide
- EPA’s 2024 Asbestos Ban Explained
Are asbestos brake pads still legal in the United States?▼
Yes. While the EPA’s 2024 chrysotile asbestos ban will eventually phase out asbestos brake pads, the rule includes exemptions and long phase-in periods. Asbestos-containing brake pads—especially imported aftermarket parts—continue to be sold legally in the U.S.
How do I know if my brake pads contain asbestos?▼
You often can’t tell without laboratory testing. There is no federal requirement to label brake pads as containing asbestos. Budget-priced aftermarket parts from overseas suppliers are most likely to contain asbestos. Buying from reputable domestic manufacturers reduces but doesn’t eliminate risk.
How should mechanics safely handle brake dust?▼
Never use compressed air to clean brake components—this creates an aerosol of potentially asbestos-containing dust. Use HEPA-filtered brake washers or wet cleaning methods. Wear P100 respirators during brake work. Work in well-ventilated areas. Change clothes before leaving work.
Can one brake job cause mesothelioma?▼
While risk increases with cumulative exposure, there is no known “safe” level of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma has developed in people with limited exposure. A single brake job on asbestos-containing pads releases millions of fibers. Professional mechanics face the greatest risk due to repeated exposure over long careers.