2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission What is my hood liner made of...

[wlowe]

I have a 2001.5 Ram, which unlike the 2002 model still has a hood liner. Unfortuneatly it's looking pretty shabby, sagging a little and dirty. I'm hesitant to wash it, not sure if it will disinigrate when it gets wet. I'm thinking about removing it and tossing it in the garbage but I have read that many vehicles had asbestos in their hood liners. Not sure which vehicle makes or years had asbestos. Does anybody know if my hood liner could have asbestos in it. Don't like the idea of having asbestos over my head when I'm working on my truck.

 

[seafish]

IMO there is NO way the EPA would let car manufacturers continue to use asbestos in products…it was pretty much phased out by the mid 1970's.

 

[BarryG]

Agree with Seafish

 

[BigPapa]

Seafish is correct, asbestos hasn't been used for that sort of thing since the '70's.


The way mine fell apart I have concluded that it was made from a type of synthetic cotton candy. Liquorice flavored.....

 

[seafish]

All that being said, I removed mine many years ago because mice had started nesting underneath it. There have been zero ill effects in either increased noise or paint bubbling or discoloring. Maybe just remove it from the hood??

 

[wlowe]

IMO there is NO way the EPA would let car manufacturers continue to use asbestos in products…it was pretty much phased out by the mid 1970's.

Seafish, just like you I was under the impression that asbestos was banned in the late seventies - early eighties. Unfortuneatly, I was incorrect, just like many others who assumed the same thing. The EPA banned asbestos in July of 1989, then in 1991 the ban was overturned by an appeals court, (see link below). A few items remained banned, mostly paper items, but the majority of items are still allowed to use asbestos including brake shoes, roofing products, gaskets, etc., basically everything that was allowed before, including hood liners.

I'm sure that many manufacturers stopped using asbestos to minimize possible litigation, but the problem is that there are no regulations requiring the manufacturers to label their products if they contain asbestos, which leaves us totally in the dark when trying to determine if a product contains asbestos. Regarding my hood liner, I've emailed Dodge to see if they can give me any info. Or maybe another member can give us more info.

If I can't determine if the liner contains asbestos, or if it does contain asbestos, I will either remove and replace with dynamat, or just remove and not replace.

Thanks,
Bill

http://www.mesothelioma-attorney.com/asbestos/bans-and-regulations

 

[wlowe]

Well, I do have some good news in regards to Dodge ram brake shoes. I found an article on the internet pertaining to 1994-2001 Rams, which has the following quote:

"Brakes were designed for best in class feel, stopping ability, heat resistance, and durability, with standard sliding caliper front disc brakes and dual servo rear brakes on all models. Front brakes used slider single piston calipers; the sliders protected against contamination and corrosion. Rotors, drums, and power brake boosters were larger and (except for the booster) thicker than on the previous generation. A quick take-up booster and master cylinder assembly, similar to one first introduced on the Viper sports car, responded immediately to pedal movement. The systems were self-adjusting; and lining materials had no asbestos. Steering knuckles on 2WD models had integral brake caliper anchors for simplicity and low weight."

Here is the link, scroll down to, "Steering, wheels, tires, and brakes":

https://www.allpar.com/model/ram/1994-ram.html

So, apparently we don't have to worry about asbestos when working on our OEM brakes, that's good news.

 

[promisedland]

All that being said, I removed mine many years ago because mice had started nesting underneath it. There have been zero ill effects in either increased noise or paint bubbling or discoloring. Maybe just remove it from the hood??

Following..... my hood liner is sagging as well,.. well, WAS! :-laf I yanked it out today after i read this thread.
Couldnt tell a dif in noise.

My question is,.. my rear liner is hanging down ON the valve cover. [the piece that curves down behind the top/rear of the eng] Bugs me when i see it. Maybe i should just keep the hood down...
How needed is this piece? Heat/noise..??

 

[seafish]

As noted before, I also removed the hood liner on my truck with ZERO difference in noise or heat.
That being said, since that back panel is SHARED between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment, I believe the effect of removing that insulation WILL be more noticeable then simply removing the hood liner.
And since in fact I am spending a lot of effort and time and some money to actually REDUCE in cab engine and road noise (including using foam encapsulated sheet lead on the floor, over the transmission hump and up the inside cab firewall), I would not want to have anything contribute to negating my efforts.

 

[promisedland]

I understand your noise concern.... Anybody else have trouble with this insulation hanging down? Any advise on how to get/keep it up?

 

[promisedland]

All that being said, I removed mine many years ago because mice had started nesting underneath it. There have been zero ill effects in either increased noise or paint bubbling or discoloring. Maybe just remove it from the hood??

Mice!? Did they have little C's on their t-shirts? as in Cummins... :-laf

 

[seafish]

... Any advise on how to get/keep it up?

hmmm..don't need it myself, butI hear Viagra or Cialis works wonders for that!!

so sorry, couldn't help it!!!

 

[promisedland]

You HAD to say that ^^^

I'll forgive you THIS time.

 

[Mingoglia]

FWIW, I know this thread is about the actual hood liner, but allow me to go on a slight tangent. Resist the urge to remove the rubber gasket that runs along the cowl under the back of the hood. I got tired of mine falling off years ago (like your liner) and I put it in the garage. I then moved shortly after, and apparently it got lost/thrown out. Well, I went on a highway road trip and it became apparent that that increased road noise considerably.

 

[promisedland]

hmmm..don't need it myself, butI hear Viagra or Cialis works wonders for that!!

so sorry, couldn't help it!!!

Because you will not give me your...
I had to fix it myself! Here is how i did it. I used SS fender washers on the bottom and a rubber washer in the trough. Worked well!

 

[wlowe]

I have a 2001.5 Ram, which unlike the 2002 model still has a hood liner. Unfortuneatly it's looking pretty shabby, sagging a little and dirty. I'm hesitant to wash it, not sure if it will disinigrate when it gets wet. I'm thinking about removing it and tossing it in the garbage but I have read that many vehicles had asbestos in their hood liners. Not sure which vehicle makes or years had asbestos. Does anybody know if my hood liner could have asbestos in it. Don't like the idea of having asbestos over my head when I'm working on my truck.

More good news, Chrysler Customer Service answered my email asking whether the hood liner in my 2001 contains asbestos, and this is what they said,

"Thank you for your patience while we reviewed your file, according to available information, the factory installed hood should not contain asbestos. If you do have any further questions or concerns please contact us back."