Asbestos Bits

[mogdobz]

Hi all. I understand that there are a few components in the Minor that were usually made of asbestos. If you know of any - please kindly reply with them so I can check around my car for it, condition, etc.

Currently I'm aware of the passenger side exhaust heatshield, old-style brake shoes, and the Bakelite steering wheels (although that last is happily non-friable).

Ultimately I want to get rid of any of it - for obvious enough reasons!

[les]

I haven’t given any thought to being concerned about those items, they are not things you come into contact with, and I believe it’s only handling crumbling material of that nature that presents any danger, if you start breathing it in. I doubt the heat shield would be asbestos now anyway.

[geoberni]

As you say, old Brake Shoes (pre around mid 1990s), the old insulator under the floor (if you actually have one, because after 70 years I'd be surprised to find one) and any Bakelite parts, which may include the Steering Wheel Boss, and the old Pull Switches pre '63/64.

But the exposure levels of working with these items is negligable on a personal vehicle; your end comment makes it sound as though it's a Biological or Chemical Weapon.
You can discount the Bakelite as it's well enclosed unless you're planning on sanding it all down in a very enclosed space.
The Insulation Mat is unlikely to be there.
The Brakes, well just don't brush or blow the dust everywhere and then breath it in repeatedly.

Treat it with respect and there's no issues.

[Chief]

You can discount the Bakelite as it's well enclosed unless you're planning on sanding it all down in a very enclosed space.

I suspect my original wheel probably releases particles because it was so worn down (it's a light grey in colour and very pitted), in fact I went and got a new wheel to fit once my car is back on the road.

Isn't it also the case that not all bakelite is mixed with asbestos? It's just you don't know what is and what isn't?

he old insulator under the floor

If you mean the under carpet insulation then that's still available to purhcase so I'd reckon there's no asbestos involved there (at least for 60's cars), or did you mean the stuff on the metal floor panels that has the paint over it which the insulation/carpet sits on?

[philthehill]

I am certain that geoberni means the insulator attached to the underside of the floor above the silencer.
The insulator was supposed to keep the silencer heat away from the passenger side front floor section.
The insulator material absorbed water and then rotted the floor away.
In many cases the insulator and carrier were removed as they never really kept the floor and carpet cool.
One of the first things to be removed after I purchased my Minor and by doing so saved the floor. I never had any problems with the floor and carpet getting hot.

[Chief]

I am certain that geoberni means the insulator attached to the underside of the floor above the silencer.

Ah okay, I've seen it referred to as a heat shield but not an insulator.

I actually saw an original one of those for sale on eBay several years ago, it was in such poor shape (in two halfs, torn and fluffy) that I'm sure it wasn't safe to sell, let alone send through the post.

[geoberni]

You can discount the Bakelite as it's well enclosed unless you're planning on sanding it all down in a very enclosed space.

I suspect my original wheel probably releases particles because it was so worn down (it's a light grey in colour and very pitted), in fact I went and got a new wheel to fit once my car is back on the road.

Isn't it also the case that not all bakelite is mixed with asbestos? It's just you don't know what is and what isn't?

he old insulator under the floor

If you mean the under carpet insulation then that's still available to purhcase so I'd reckon there's no asbestos involved there (at least for 60's cars), or did you mean the stuff on the metal floor panels that has the paint over it which the insulation/carpet sits on?

I said under the floor, not under the carpet.
'Insulator Floor' was the official description, fitted to all Minors as far as I'm aware, since there is no cessation details in the parts manual.

exhaust insulator.JPG (75.53 KiB) Viewed 5295 times

It's most unlikely that any particles released by a Bakelite steering wheel are small enough to do any harm as they would still be encased in the other resins etc of the manufacturing.
The actual fibres that do the harm are pure asbestos rock fibres, invisible to the naked eye.

[mowogg]

Clutch plate is probably asbestos?