Brake shoe linings? Asbestos?

[Niall]

Actually there is a chance they could be asbestos. Although we limited it's use massively in the 80s here, there are still some countries that widely use it even today and there is no law stating it can't be shipped into this country except for in it's raw form.
If you really want to make sure they are safe, paint them in wallpaper paste. Sounds silly but that's even what the professionals use where needed. It seals together the top layer of fibres so that providing they aren't broken or punctured, it can't hurt you.
All of this is fresh in the mind for me as I did a refresher course a few weeks back at work and I tell you what, you dont realise how much of it is arround us today even in new production!