Brake Pads Ordered Online Found to Contain Asbestos
The brake pads and brakes shoes (for drum brakes) are produced by Tanaki and Zhangxingyue. All the products noted in the action are produced in China, and all of the products fail to meet REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulations. These guidelines aim to protect consumers from coming into contact with harmful substances and to protect the environment.
The substance is great for absorbing heat therefore its use in brake pads, and is fireproof hence its use in fireproof suits, but its dust is dangerous when inhaled as it causes mesothelioma in the lungs. Mesothelioma is a cancer that starts as a growth of abnormal cells from a thin layer of tissue that covers many internal organs. Asbestos dust cannot be flushed out, hence will stay in the lungs for a long time to come.
The only advice we can provide at the moment is to insist on asbestos-free brake pads and shoes when you replace them. Apart from that, stay away and do not inhale brake dust when the mechanic or you clean your motorcycle’s brakes with compressed air.
Asbestos has been banned in many countries around the world, including the European Union and Malaysia since 1999. However, the bans cover different aspects of the usage of asbestos. For example, while the use of asbestos has been banned in the U.S. and Europe, Malaysia only banned the substance from building materials in government hospitals, clinics, schools, and buildings. As of 2025, the Malaysian authorities is still working towards a total ban.
