2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 2001 brake pad questions...

[wlowe]

I'm doing a little research to get ready to do a brake job. My 2001 Ram has four wheel disk brakes but for now I am only doing the fronts. I'm going with the Performance Friction pads and Powerslot rotors.



My question is this; were the 2001 Dodge Ram OEM front brake pads asbestos free? I've searched the internet for info and all I can find is a TSB, (see link below), stating that the rear drum pads had asbestos until 1999. I'm assuming that this TSB implies that the front pads are asbestos free, but wanted to see if anyone knew for sure.





TSB 05-07-99

 

[AKAMAC]

The pads on the newer trucks are semi-metalic. All asbestos has been removed by 2000 per congress in a vote back in the 80s. The deadline to file for damages to people form meso type cancers is 2010.

 

[wlowe]

The pads on the newer trucks are semi-metalic. All asbestos has been removed by 2000 per congress in a vote back in the 80s. The deadline to file for damages to people form meso type cancers is 2010.

Thanks for the info AKAMAC. I was also under the impression that asbestos was banned but apparently that is incorrect. After doing some research I found that most of the ban was overturned in 1991. Many of the products using asbestos before the ban are still allowed to use asbestos, (see EPA link below, section III). It appears that many of the brake pad manufacturers are now producing asbestos free pads, probably to avoid future health claim litigation, but if the EPA link below is correct, the use of asbestos in brake pads is still allowed .



http://www.epa.gov/oppt/asbestos/pubs/asbbans2.pdf