Document oDNLm8r40D56MR8Da0B3ER4VX

FILE NAME: Chrysler (CHR) DATE: 1988 June 23 DOC#: CHR091 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter to Alamo Containing List of Vehicles with Asbestos Brake Linings r s z i C76S t** S (*/SS db* DC 5626 r % dase" HATH: l / c o / i FAJHTT MESSACI TO: FA* PHONE: NOTIFIED! ____ L )u tO rJ TIME!_____ FROM: PHONE: _____ Cg>~ Z 0 4 ) SUBJECT: /9 a *Q C '& T T & Z . i A t iJ u G - c f S r .^ O F / t + t c c e s U )/ A S B e S T S z A K B <Lt/Ji*f< (Cbryilar Inforartioa taaoareaa Cattar 137-3) DC 5627 ChtytMw Motor* C tnHWHtM 4 K .m1 ^er V YIO. <*> Jura 23, 1988 Alamo Sant A Car P.0. Box 22776 Fort Lauderdala. Ft 33335 Attention: G. Brian Cox Warranty Operations Manager Dear Mr* Cox: I am responding to your letter to Mr* Dave Trainor inquiring about vehicles manufactured since 1986 which contain asbestos in the brake linings. Although you asked about American Motors vehicles, I am expanding our response to cover all Chrysler Motors vehicles, including those manufactured by the former American Motors Corporation (AMC). We have been working to reduce or eliminate the use of asbestos friction materials in our product line for a number of years. Our experience-shows that the development of substitute materials is a very difficult and time consuming task. Some of the problems that wa have encountered with asbestos substitute materials include inconsistent front-to-rear brake balance during repeated brake applications and during the life of the vehicle, unsatisfactory disc brake rotor scoring, cracking of the linings, unacceptable noise generation and an inability to meet our Corporate minimum brake lining life goal. Over the years, consumers have developed the expectation that vehicle brake systems will provide safe, reliable, noise-free performance during many miles of operation under all types of driving conditions with minimal maintenance. Because brake performance is so important to vehicle safety, new asbestos-free brake lining compounds and formulations must be developed to meet these same objectives. There can be no compromise by a premature switch to substitute materials. While some- substitute materials that meet the above criteria have been developed and we are constantly pressuring our suppliers to produce more candidate materials, there Is still much more work to be done before asbestos pads and linings can be totally eliminated. ") In answer to your specific question, since 1986 we have produced the following vehicle applications with asbestos-free brake linings: Model Year Vehicle Line 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987,1988 Dodge Daytona Pacifica Dodge Daytona Shelby Z Dodge Grand Caravan SB Dodge Grand Caravan LE (front disc with 6 or 8 passenger seating package or heavy duty suspension) " '* '* D .t.ett Ml 49266-1119 . DC 5628 Pag* 2 Modal Year Vehicle Lin* 19871988 19871988 19871988 1987 1988 1988 1988 1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 Plymouth Grind Voyigar SB (front disc with 6 or 8 passenger .seating package or heavy duty .suspension) Plymouth Grind Voyigir LE it ti Dodg* Mini Ram Van (front disc with 2000# pay load and heavy duty suspension) Renault GTA (front disc) Eagle Premier Chrysler New Yorker (optional rear disc) Bodge Dakota (10" rear drum) Dodge Dakota Sport " 11 Dodge Power Ram 250 Pickup (front disc) with Sno-Cotaaander package Dodge Ram 350 Pickup u '* with dual rear wheels Dodge Power Ram 350 Pickup " t( Jeep Grand Wagoneer M " Since 1986 we have produced the following vehicle front disc brake applications with asbestos-free friction materials .`mounted on underlayer material which contained asbestos: Model- Year ___ Vehicle Line- Model Year Vehicle Line 1987.1988 1987 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 19871988 1987.1988 1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 Plymouth Horixon Plymouth Turismo Plymouth Sundance Plymouth Reliant Plymouth Caravelle Dodge Omni Bodge Charger Dodge Shadow Dodge Aries Dodge Lancer . Dodg* Daytona^1 ' Dodge 600 Dodge Dynaaty Chrysler LeBaron ChryslerTown 6 Country ChryslerLeBaron GTS ChryslerNew Yorker 1987 1987 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 1987.1988 Renault Alliance Renault Encore Dodge Caravan Plymouth Voyager Dodge Grand Caravan'2' Plymouth Grand Voyager^2' Dodge Mini-Ram Van Dodge Dakota Dodge Ramcharger Dodge Ram Vagon Dodge Rea Van Dodg* Raa Pickups'3' Jeep Coaenche Jeep Cherokee Jeep Vegoneer Jeep Wrangler Notes: (1) Except the Pacific* and Shelby Z line# listed in asbestos-free group above. (2) Except the SE and LK applications listed in asbestos-free group above* * (3) Except the three pickup front disc applications listed in asbestos-free group above. DC 5629 Page 3 All other application* in vehicles built by AMC and Chrysler have brake linings containing asbestos* We believe that the concerns for handling brake lining materials containing asbestos in service applications have been reduced with the elimination of requirements for grinding replacement linings* Nevertheless* we are continuing to search for and develop acceptable asbestos*free materials for other brake lining applications. We plan to put asbestos-free brake lining materials into every vehicle we manufacture if and when we are convinced that the asbestos-free material provides acceptable braking performance* We urge you to follow the procedures outlined in our most recent service manuals when replacing brake linings on your vehicles. Sincerelyf RSA/ma CC: B. Dunn D. Tralnor B. R. Smith Manager* fleet Engineering DC 5630