Ok, NOS parts I can see still being able to buy, but why? There's much better available in modern materials. Especially with a disk conversion that's using parts from later model vehicles that never used asbestos in the first place. I personally prefer Wagner, especially the Thermo Quiet and Severe Duty SUV/Truck friction. Bendix and the AZ C-Max brake friction is very good, too.
Bill, when I found that my newly constructed street rod roadster was plenty fast but wouldn't stop I went to a local brake supplier that is now second generation, managed by the sons of the founder. I told them of the problem I was having with stock rear 10" drum brakes on a Ford 8" rear end and a front brake setup using Aspen/Volare 11" rotors and GM metric calipers adapted to an early Ford beam axle. A asked them if they thought ceramic or metalic pads and shoes were the answer.
These are really honest guys, something pretty rare in today's corporate economic sewer, and rather than selling me some expensive friction they said "Before trying the pricey ceramic friction or the metalic friction that will chew up your drums and rotors, lets try some old school, inexpensive asbestos. A few warehouses still have a very few part numbers left. Let us see if anybody still has your parts. If that doesn't solve the problem, we'll try something else."
It took a while, but they got the asbestos for me. That was 10,000 miles and 5 years ago. After I found out how well it works I got some more off ebay for my roadster, for a friend's roadster and for my El Camino that has the same metric front brakes as my roadster.
Anyway, that's how I tried asbestos after not using it for about 25 years.
For what it's worth, I also have R-12 refrigerant that I bought before the price spiked that I use in my '71 Dodge van and my '78 El Camino. That avoids having to convert to R-134 to keep those old trucks shooting icicles.
I guess I'm just old school and working hard to stay that way. To each his own, huh?
