Before Kevlar and fiberglass were used for manufacturing clutch linings, the naturally occurring mineral known as asbestos was seen as the solution for better wear.
Although they have a different purpose than brake linings, clutch linings are faced with similar friction as they are meant to keep two surfaces in contact. During the friction process, the asbestos-containing material started to deteriorate, leaving the asbestos fibers in a friable state. As the mechanics performed maintenance work on the car, they would have been subjected to asbestos exposure. You could have been exposed if: