Posted on 06/26/2012 3:31:55 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
The Washington State Department of Ecology formally proposed regulations relating to the composition of brake pads, also known as the Better Brakes Law. The Better Brakes Law phases out the use of certain substances including copper, asbestos and several heavy metals from automotive brake pads, both aftermarket and original equipment.
The first requirement to reduce asbestos and several heavy metals goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Copper would be required to be reduced to 5 percent by 2021.
The law was passed due to concern that use of certain substances in brake friction material could cause harm to human health and the environment. California has enacted similar requirements, but has thus far not initiated the development of regulations to implement their statute.
(Excerpt) Read more at aftermarketnews.com ...
How about wood? Can wood be used?
How about you feet? Can they use those as well?
What about cars from out of state? Can they come in?
Geeesh... what a bunch of wingnuts.
Governments nowadays are thoroughly into doublespeak. Any law means the opposite of what it says."Better Brakes Law" means crappy brakes that are going to get some people hurt or killed.
Does anyone know how good or bad the remaining allowed brake materials are in comparison to those using the to-be-banned ones?
Here in the people’s republic of Washington they have also outlawed lead weights for balancing tires.
How about the brakes on the airliners? Are they going to require all airlines to reequip in order to land at their airports? The legislature is mad...mad...mad!
Shades of Fred Flintstone’s feet.
You know the answer to that without any reference to the subject matter, don't you?
Manufacturers have optimized some lining compositions for higher performance, and some of them have been optimized for lifetime and cost.
If you artificially exclude some of those components then by definition you will compromise on either cost/life or performance.
Copper is dangerous? For God's Sake you have to pay extra to buy copper pots from a boutique cooking supply to EAT OFF OF.
They just trying to make people nuts with this crazy.
Copper is not cheap but it is a fantastic heat conductor. Less copper means hotter brakes, faster fade, more dead people. Except when they mandate it in Washington, manufacturers will have to simplify their distribution chain by migrating the "Washington Safe" parts to all states.
It's insane, but that's the state of play with the enviro-regulatory apparat today.
I had no idea they were harmful to my health, I guess it’s not a good idea to take brake pads to bed with me every night, I’ll just leave them on the wheels from now on.
“Here in the people’s republic of Washington they have also outlawed lead weights for balancing tires.”
I heard the Condors have been steeling them off parked cars and eating them.
“stealing”
They move in from Berkeley....and got jobs with the (mother) state.
Ceramic brake pads work well for smaller vehicles, but I think they do have some copper in them. Trucks and larger vehicles use semi-metallic brake pads.
That is why the water looks green...
That is why the water looks green...
20 years ago the EPA looked at banning Asbethos from brake shoes and pads. They concluded that there would be CARNAGE on the highways as there was simply NOTHING to replace them with, at least for cars and trucks designed for Asbestos.
When crap like this happens, any INTELLIGENT car owner will buy a lifetime’s supply of the real thing, before it’s banned. Even if you don’t know how to chance brakes, you mechanic does, or your neighbor (you know, the one you look down on).
I still have supplies from over a decade ago that have since been outlawed. If you pay attention, you’ll see it coming - and if you’re halfway intelligent, you’ll stock up, while you still can.
...and one other thing. Don’t think you’re safe if you live in a red state (like Texas). Very often companies will simply change their materials for everyone, not just Washington State and California - so you won’t even know it’s coming.
Exactly. Thank goodness that California also banned the use of cleaning supplies containing chlorine bleach in coastal waters. Because, you know, there are no chlorine compounds that occur naturally in the ocean.
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