levyjarruissa

Levijarruissa is the Finnish term for disc brakes in automotive engineering. The system uses a rotating brake disc attached to a wheel and friction pads pressed against the disc by a brake caliper when hydraulic or mechanical force is applied, converting kinetic energy into heat.

Typical components include the brake disc (jarrulevy), brake pads (jarrupalat), caliper (jarrusatula), pistons, and the hydraulic lines connected to the master cylinder. In many vehicles, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and electronic stability control are integrated with disc brakes to maintain steering control during braking. Disc brakes are common on modern cars and are often used on the front wheels; rear brakes may be discs or drums depending on cost and packaging, though many newer models use discs on all wheels.

Operation is straightforward: pressing the brake pedal increases hydraulic pressure in the brake lines, causing the caliper pistons to clamp the pads onto the disc, creating friction that slows or stops the wheel.

Advantages and maintenance: disc brakes offer strong stopping power, good heat dissipation, and reliable performance in wet conditions. They require periodic pad replacement and may need rotor resurfacing or replacement if worn or warped. Common issues include pad wear, rotor scoring, caliper sticking, and corrosion.

Variants and design: disc brakes may use floating or fixed calipers, and single-piston or multi-piston configurations. Materials range from cast iron and steel rotors to high-performance carbon-ceramic discs, depending on application and cost.