Hi Guys,
And thanks to all, for the information.
My front brake hubs are most definately narrower than the rear, which poses more questions than answers. My chassis was 'reduced' to 115", so it must have been longer, correct? If it WAS a longer chassis, and assuming the writing under the hood lid which was "60L/1942", is original (and I believe it was, based on script and condition of writing) then my front axle should not be the F15/F15A/F30 type?!? It is though. Can you confirm I am right or wrong from the following two photographs, please.
Jacques, thanks for the offer, but I have a second set of 3 1/2" on my spare rear axle assembly. I'm confident the front ones will be 2", though not fully understanding WHY they are. Some axle swap in the past, most likely.
Now i'm even MORE keen to get those on ebay. That's a whole lot of front pads for me to choose best of, and send another set away for relining. Some of the auction ones seem to be colour suggesting previous relining, and others obviously original, and evil! That said, I agree with Jacques, that there are safe ways to remove, and dispose of, asbestos linings.
I recall the exact day I was enlightened to the dangers of asbestos. It was a Sunday, and 60 Minutes (a current affairs show, for all you foreign folk) ran a story about a number of people who were dying of asbestosis and mesothelioma. Earlier that day I had just finished removing inside walls of a house we were renovating. Guess what the walls were made of! While I watched the 60 Minutes story, the asbestos wall lining was sitting in a shattered pile in back yard, ready to be carted away. We made a good show of breaking the chunks into small pieces, so it would fit in the back of the car. There must have been asbestos dust EVERYWHERE that day. No idea it was of any concern until that evening. My Father had asbestos related lung damage, which he never knew about, and was only discovered by CXR the day he passed-away. He had been a builder for over 30 years......right through the 50s, 60s and 70s, which were of course the days when asbestos health problems were not known about, at least by general population.
I curse you James Hardie!