So I am relocating to Australia in the near future and looking at taking my F250 with me. One of the requirements however is that there is NO asbestos in the vehicle. Other than brakes, and maybe the firewall insulation, are there any other areas of concern for asbestos that I should consider?

 

I doubt the firewall insulation has any asbestos, but if it is has a manual trans, it's likely the clutch disc has some mixed in the fibers.

BarnieTrk

 

Most of the brake pads/shoes and clutch discs made since the 90’s are asbestos free. If yours are that old, you can always change them prior to shipping the truck, and save your box or receipt to prove it. Changing the clutch disc is more pricey, of course. I did not know that the firewall insulation might have had asbestos in it. Is this true?

 

No idea, this was just an assumption on my part, given that it's some sort of insulation. Thankfully this truck is an automatic, so the clutch isn't a concern.

All the brakes have been replaced in recent years so there's no concern there.

 

Doing a bit more research on this and discovered this post saying there would have been asbestos in the seam sealer. Does anyone know definitively where on the truck seam sealer would have been used? Yes, I know, the seams, but I need specifics here lol

 

I've worked in and around the auto body and old car restoration business for 45 years and no where have I ever run into any body filler that had asbestos in it. Finished seams, like roof to quarter panel and A pillar were finished with lead well into the 80's. Seam sealer is going to be found in the drip rails, the seam across the back of the cab above the back glass, and perhaps in some areas of the cowl. These areas will be covered by paint and no one will know what's underneath without digging into a finished paint job.

This whole subject begs the question, what is the verification process used by the Australian government to ensure compliance? Is it just a form you sign attesting to the fact the vehicle is asbestos free? Are they going to take the truck apart to investigate? Brakes and clutch is going to be the likely sources they'll be concerned about as those were known parts that contained asbestos 50 years ago. Not so much lately. If there was anything in any seam sealer or filler, and I highly doubt there is, it's going to be covered and sealed by the paint and won't cause a health concern. Anyone grinding into your paint will make a bigger mess than asbestos would be.

 

some parts boxes still don’t say clearly whether they’re asbestos‑free. I’ve started checking the manufacturer’s website before installing anything on my older trucks.

For anyone who’s done recent brake jobs on these Fords, have you noticed any brands that consistently label things well or poorly?

 

Bingo! Direct and to the point. I did some looking and it says Australia does not inspect for asbestos. But it does require written certification from an independent accredited asbestos professional to inspect and certify the vehicle is asbestos free. Owner declaration is not allowed.

 

Likely has asbestos in the auto trans clutches, head gaskets, exhaust manifold gaskets and probably other other gaskets also electrical wire insulation.

It would be extremely difficult to be 100% sure that there were no asbestos in this truck.
Australia has went completely nuts with things like this

 

Which is why I am so paranoid about it.

 

Leave it here. If the Aussies are that paranoid they don't deserve to have it down there! LOL

 

I treat any old brake or clutch parts like they might have asbestos. I keep everything wet, skip the compressed air, and wear a decent mask while cleaning or pulling drums.

 

Australia has went off the deep end on things like this.

My son works for a company that builds military support equipment, the Australian military made a order using US specs which is what most Nato countries do. When the equipment arrived the Australian government had a absolute fit because the equipment was painted with cadmium paint which is strictly banned in australia. When it was pointed out that they ordered the units to US military specs which called for cadmium paint they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and had the equipment disassembled, sandblasted out in the open, repainted and reassembled. Sandblasting out in the open to get rid of a "dangerous" substance is right on par with charging electric buses with diesel generators to save the environment.

 

getting professional asbestos testing before renovation or demolition saved me a ton of stress. It gave me the lab reports I needed for permits and helped me plan the work without guessing. If you're unsure about older materials or dealing with local rules, that testing can really keep things smooth and avoid surprise delays.

 

Sounds to me like Australian's think they are going to save the planet and live forever (neither is going to happen), even worse than the tree huggers here!