I've only recently entered the hobby of auto restoration, and for my first project I decided to tackle a badly-rusted 1988 Honda Civic (not exactly a classic, but this particular car has sentimental value to me). The degree of repairs needed is beyond what any sane technician or restorer would attempt to tackle, but - progress is being made. Since the vehicle is outside, the arrival of winter has greatly slowed the amount of work I can do on the body, so I started working on some of the components I could take indoors. Right now I've got a rear control arm with the brake assembly on the workbench, and I've begun sizing up what brake components need replacing. The rust is so bad that everything - shoes, springs, cylinders, even the parking brake cables - will need replacing, but that's not why I'm writing. The reason is because I'm concerned about hazardous dust that may be in this area. Before touching anything, I rinsed everything with brake cleaner and allowed it to run off. I didn't think there was any need to wipe with a cloth. Now, after a couple hours of working on this (long after the brake cleaner dried), I notice my throat is a bit irritated. That worries me, because I've encountered asbestos in antique radios (another hobby of mine), and exposure to it, if I didn't wear a mask, would cause the same throat irritation. I've heard far too much about the hazards of asbestos and I'm now concerned about my health. Do you think I should see a doctor, or is already too late? And finally, how can a non-professional safely clean brake parts without access to industrial brake-cleaning equipment? I very much want to pursure a hobby, or perhaps a career, in automotive technology, but I want to make sure I do it as safely as possible. Thanks for any advice.
- posted
15 years ago