Document RJvOvowOJVZ8LZ42mO6zqJ9Bv

MftV--14-1990 11 ' 59 CftD-OPERftrrONS BRftNCH 2- - 202 260 1724 P. 10^'14 Whlie m r aggressively pursuing ellaliutlen of csbactos In Ford product*, Ford* i toxicology axptrtt hove concluded that Mbasco* in product use, when encapsulated Co W*ynt release Of airborne tHyra, does not peut Sw>Iih risk' These experte~bowever, believe materials that are acceptable substitutes for asbeetoe will posses soe of the physical and ohealcal_prop_e.KfeibJL.df asbestosA Therefore, asbestos substitutes should be treated with the sane cere as asbestos Itself. "7. Mow will the phase out of asbestos in new -vehicles affect the use of asbestos-containing replacement parts in the aftermarket? Will the aftenaarkat automatically phase out asbestos as new vehicles phase out asbestos, or will asbestos replacement parts continue to be vised ae cheap substitutes for non-original equipment?" It is Ford's understanding that the long term availability of asbestoe will be dramatically curtailed both domestically and abroad. Suppliers of asbestos indicate they will continue to support OEM manufacturers only as long as specific asbestos-containing products remain In production and may require "one-time-buys" for subsequent replacement part inventories,^ Given the --N possibility of scarce availability of asbestos manufacturing sources later In ' the decade. Ford does not believe "asbestos replacement parts [will be] cheap j , substitutes for non-original equipment" either by OEM or after-market replace-/ V.ment part suppliers. -.........................................- Ford will continue to provide. non-asbestos pares as replacement for nonaebeetoe OEM parts. r The use of non-asbestos vs aebee6(Tpafta however,..... ./visually requires Changes to other components in brake systems to maintain acceptable performance, reliability and quality. Accordingly, Ford has no 'present plans to develop and test non-asbestos substitutes for asbestos., presently used in its brake replacement parts..:/'With regard to other than brake ^ /replacement parts, non-aift>&6f6i containing replacements for asbestos parts may / t or may not be provided depending on Inventory levels and availability of .... / acceptable non:..esb.estoa..substltutes>>>Hln any casTe, maintaining acceptable levels of performance, reliability`and quality, not coat, will be the primary factor that determines asbestos or non-asbestos usage. *8. How will one company'a phase out of asbestos affect the company competitiveness in the domestic market end in the international market vis-a-vis another company, foreign or domestic, that does not phase out asbestos"? i Ford has long believed that the phase out of asbestos from its products will not threaten its world-wide competitive position because its non-asbestos I bearing products will continue to provide customers with acceptable levels of \ performance, reliability and quality. Very truly yours, Executive Engineer Vehicle Safety Assurance 05/14/98 11:45 TX/RX NO.2139 P.010