Raybestos Brake Linings
| Manufacturer | Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. (later Pneumo Abex; now part of Honeywell) |
|---|---|
| Product type | Asbestos brake pads, brake linings, clutch facings, friction materials |
| Years produced | Approximately 1900s–1990s (chrysotile asbestos standard through ~1990; some products legal until EPA ban November 2024) |
| Primary asbestos fiber | Chrysotile (white asbestos), the dominant fiber in automotive friction products |
| Asbestos content by weight | Typically 30–60% in brake linings |
| Primary uses | Passenger car and truck brake pads and linings, industrial clutch facings, heavy equipment friction components |
| Trust fund | Raytech/Raymark Trust (1.35% payment percentage, ~$1,300 approximate mesothelioma payout); Federal-Mogul Products (FMP) Subfund (reported at 12.2% payment percentage by multiple secondary sources; primary source not confirmed, ~$13,300 approximate mesothelioma payout) |
Raybestos brake linings are asbestos-containing friction products manufactured by Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. from the early 1900s through the 1990s. These brake pads and linings contained 30–60% chrysotile asbestos by weight and were installed on passenger cars, trucks, and heavy equipment across North America. Auto mechanics, do-it-yourself repair workers, and fleet maintenance technicians who handled Raybestos friction products face elevated mesothelioma risk from chrysotile fiber inhalation in brake dust.
Legacy Raybestos-Manhattan claims are now channeled through the Raytech/Raymark Trust. Chrysotile asbestos remained legal in U.S. aftermarket brake pads until November 25, 2024, when the EPA's final chrysotile rule under the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act took effect.[1]
Where were Raybestos brake linings used?
Raybestos brake pads, brake linings, and clutch facings were installed across a wide range of industries and settings:
- Automotive repair shops and brake shops — professional mechanics servicing passenger cars and light trucks
- Do-it-yourself (DIY) mechanics — consumers performing home brake jobs on personal vehicles
- Fleet maintenance operations — bus fleets, trucking companies, and municipal vehicle depots
- Industrial equipment maintenance — clutch facings and friction components on heavy equipment
- Railroad brake systems — locomotive and rolling stock friction components
- Government and military vehicle maintenance — federal, state, and armed forces vehicle depots
Asbestos was standard in automotive brake pads and clutch facings through the 1990s and 2000s.[2] Brake pad dust remained a documented consumer hazard for DIY mechanics until the EPA's November 2024 prohibition took effect. See Automotive_Mechanics for occupational exposure details and Asbestos_Products_Database for a full catalog of asbestos friction products.
What injuries and litigation are associated with Raybestos brake linings?
Raybestos-Manhattan was one of the major defendants in early asbestos personal injury litigation dating back to the 1970s. Automotive mechanics have documented elevated rates of mesothelioma attributed to brake dust inhalation, particularly when old drum brake linings were sanded, drilled, or blown out with compressed air. Legacy Raybestos-Manhattan liability is channeled through the Raytech/Raymark Trust, established in 2000. Federal-Mogul Corporation, which acquired certain Pneumo Abex friction-product assets, has a separate trust known as the Federal-Mogul Products (FMP) Subfund, established in 2007.
The EPA's March 2024 chrysotile ban specifically targeted aftermarket automotive brakes as an "ongoing use" of asbestos to be prohibited — an explicit federal acknowledgment of the ongoing harm from asbestos brake products.[1] The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, as Group 1 carcinogens, and the WHO position is that there is no known safe level of asbestos exposure.[3]
How does the Raybestos trust fund compensate mesothelioma victims?
Mesothelioma claimants with Raybestos exposure history may qualify for multiple Asbestos_Trust_Funds simultaneously:
Raytech/Raymark Trust — Established in 2000 to handle Raybestos-Manhattan product liability. The trust's payment percentage is 1.35% as of 2026, and the trust's approximate mesothelioma payout at the current 1.35% payment percentage is $1,300. This is a lower-value trust due to depletion of trust assets.
Federal-Mogul Products (FMP) Subfund — Covers certain Raybestos-related liability through the Federal-Mogul corporate history. The payment percentage is reported at 12.2% by multiple secondary sources as of 2026; primary source not confirmed. The trust's approximate mesothelioma payout at the reported 12.2% payment percentage is $13,300.
Maremont Asbestos PI Trust — Established in 2019 for automotive brake and clutch lining claims. The trust's payment percentage is 28.4%, and the trust's approximate mesothelioma payout at the current 28.4% payment percentage is $7,700.
Most mesothelioma patients qualify for claims with 10 to 20 different trusts simultaneously, reflecting the reality that asbestos products from multiple companies were typically present at the same job sites. Danziger & De Llano reviews a claimant's full employment and exposure history to identify every trust that applies. Cross-reference Johns-Manville_Trust and Insulation_Workers for trade exposures that frequently co-present with friction-product exposure.
How do you identify Raybestos exposure today?
The primary at-risk group is auto mechanics who worked on brakes from the 1960s through the 1990s. Chrysotile asbestos was legal in U.S. brake pads until November 25, 2024, when the EPA chrysotile ban phase-out took effect.[4] Old-style drum brake jobs — particularly those performed before the 1990s without water wet-down or vacuum dust-control systems — generated significant airborne chrysotile fiber loads.
Documentation that supports a Raybestos exposure claim includes:
- Employment records and personnel files from auto repair shops
- Payroll stubs and W-2 forms showing mechanic work history
- Union records (UAW, Teamsters, IAM locals)
- Vehicle service histories and shop work orders identifying Raybestos products
- Coworker affidavits confirming the use of Raybestos brake pads and linings
The average latency period for mesothelioma is 30 to 45 years between first asbestos exposure and diagnosis, which means mechanics first exposed in the 1970s and 1980s are now reaching peak incidence years.[3] Mechanics evaluating a possible exposure claim can consult MesotheliomaAttorney.com for guidance on documenting brake-dust exposure and filing trust claims.
Did Raybestos brake pads contain asbestos?
Yes. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc. manufactured asbestos-containing brake pads and linings for decades beginning in the early 1900s. Chrysotile (white asbestos) was a standard ingredient in brake friction materials, typically comprising 30–60% of the product by weight. Raybestos brake pads were widely distributed to automotive repair shops, parts retailers, and original equipment manufacturers. Asbestos remained legal in U.S. aftermarket brake pads until November 25, 2024, when the EPA's final rule under the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act (TSCA) prohibited ongoing chrysotile asbestos use in vehicle friction products.
Can auto mechanics get mesothelioma from Raybestos brake pads?
Yes. Auto mechanics who performed brake jobs with asbestos-containing Raybestos pads and linings faced measurable mesothelioma risk from inhaling brake dust. When asbestos brake linings were sanded, drilled, or blown out with compressed air — common practices before proper controls became standard — chrysotile fibers became airborne. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure according to WHO and IARC. Mechanics who regularly worked with asbestos brakes from the 1960s through the 1990s are candidates for asbestos trust fund claims if they later develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.
Is there a Raybestos asbestos trust fund?
Yes. The Raytech/Raymark Trust handles claims arising from Raybestos-Manhattan asbestos products. The trust currently pays 1.35% of the scheduled value, which equals approximately $1,300 for a mesothelioma claim. Additionally, some Raybestos-related claims may qualify under the Federal-Mogul Products (FMP) Subfund, which is reported at 12.2% by multiple secondary sources with an approximate mesothelioma payout of $13,300. Mechanics diagnosed with mesothelioma from brake dust exposure often qualify for multiple trust fund claims simultaneously, potentially including the Maremont Asbestos PI Trust (28.4% payment percentage). A mesothelioma attorney can identify all applicable trusts based on a claimant's full exposure history.
See also
- Automotive_Mechanics
- Asbestos_Products_Database
- Asbestos_Trust_Funds
- Johns-Manville_Trust
- Insulation_Workers
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos
- ↑ https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Consumer_Products_Containing_Asbestos_CPSC_1979.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/QA-Mono-Vol136.pdf
- ↑ https://blog.stpub.com/epa-announces-final-phase-outs-of-commerce-in-remaining-asbestos-containing-products