[dwathencars]

Just for info, this conversation reminds me that most all brake shoe and pad friction compounds in the 1960’s and earlier used asbestos as the base material. Asbestos is a very good structural and heat resistant fiber.
In my long manufacturing career I spent some years running Bendix, making brakes for everything from motorcycles thru cars, planes and trains. Bendix had acquired several European brake companies (but not Ferdodo) including Jurid who was OE for Mercedes, Porsche and BMW. Anyway, the conversion away from asbestos was very difficult since other materials either wore too fast, overheated and broke up, smoked, squeeled, or were difficult to mold into useable shoes and pads. Current friction compounds are quire good though. Memories….. Dave