Drum Brake System: Service and Repair

WARNING: SOME AFTER MARKET BRAKES CONTAIN ASBESTOS FIBERS. AVOID BREATHING DUST. BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST MAY CAUSE ASBESTOSIS AND CANCER.

BREATHING ASBESTOS DUST IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

DUST AND DIRT PRESENT ON WHEEL BRAKE AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES MAY CONTAIN ASBESTOS FIBERS THAT ARE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH WHEN MADE AIRBORNE BY CLEANING WITH COMPRESSED AIR OR BY DRY BRUSHING.

WHEEL BRAKE ASSEMBLIES AND CLUTCH FACINGS SHOULD BE CLEANED USING A VACUUM CLEANER RECOMMENDED FOR USE WITH ASBESTOS FIBERS SUCH AS AUTOMOBILE ASBESTOS BRAKE DRUM SYSTEM WITH VACUUM 164-R3622 OR EQUIVALENT. DUST AND DIRT FROM VACUUM SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF IN SUCH A MANNER THAT PREVENT DUST EXPOSURE, SUCH AS SEALED BAGS. THE BAG MUST BE LABELED AS PER OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) INSTRUCTIONS AND THE TRASH HAULER NOTIFIED AS TO THE BAG'S CONTENTS.

IF A VACUUM SUITABLE FOR ASBESTOS IS NOT AVAILABLE, CLEANING SHOULD BE DONE WET. IF DUST GENERATION IS STILL POSSIBLE, TECHNICIANS SHOULD WEAR GOVERNMENT-APPROVED TOXIC DUST-PURIFYING RESPIRATORS.

OSHA REQUIRES AREAS WHERE ASBESTOS DUST GENERATION IS POSSIBLE TO BE ISOLATED AND POSTED WITH WARNING SIGNS. ONLY TECHNICIANS CONCERNED WITH PERFORMING BRAKE OR CLUTCH SERVICE SHOULD BE PRESENT IN THE AREA.

CAUTION: Do not use denatured alcohol for flushing the system or cleaning assemblies where alcohol could be trapped and cause eventual failure of rubber components in the system.
^ Denatured alcohol is acceptable for cleaning parts, provided the parts are completely air-dried and coated with brake fluid before installation.
^ To remove brake fluid contamination, clean all parts with denatured alcohol. Do not attempt to clean contaminated fining. Contaminated brake lining must be replaced.