Traction Control...Hard on rear brakes?

[the_stig]

An in-law is a mechanic and was telling me that if my traction control is on and I get any kind of tire chirp or wheelspin, the traction control turns on the rear brakes, it sounds true as it sort of feels like that when it happens. Whats the difference between stability control and traction control and what exactly does this model have/do??

[Sanguin]

Traction control just pulls throttle and timing to reduce power. Stability uses brakes to help you maintain a consistent driving line when the vehicle yaws.

[mymustang]

Not sure on your model but mines back the throttle position and the timing,,traction control..Now theres some system that use brake control,,going into a curve..but not sure if u have that..Are fleet at work,,dont have a lot of technology,,but most have traction control,,but none of them uses the brakes for traction

---------- Post added at 08:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:44 AM ----------

You got to remember you dont have a throttle cable so the computer has total control of your acceleration..

[pwrby4d]

Originally Posted by Sanguin

Traction control just pulls throttle and timing to reduce power. Stability uses brakes to help you maintain a consistent driving line when the vehicle yaws.

Exacty correct.

That said, I have done more than a few rear brake jobs on s197 05+ Mustangs before the fronts wore out. The rear brakes on our cars are based off of a Jaguar setup and I never really thought about why they wear quicker than the fronts on some cars but I am thinking it might just be that the rear brake setup drags more than the fronts.

[Sanguin]

Ill tell you why wear quicker... burnouts. Holding the brakes to keep the front from moving while jamming the gas is still engaging the rear brakes and you're wearing them and the rotors.

Line lock is the only way to avoid that.

[the_stig]

Ive never done a burnout. Ive got the manual so its pretty easy to spin some tires off the line without a brake stand but i dont try to light em up.

[ohiomgman]

I live in snow country. I traded my 2004 silver anniversary in recently. My traction control worked by the hydraulic pump in my ABS brake system applying the brakes to whichever rear wheel was spinning. THIS, through the open rear end, forced the other wheel to receive the engines torque and then spin...if the car was on ice. The brake pedal did NOT have to be applied. I turned the system off generally because it DOES destroy your rear brakes and turn your rotors blue. I am NOT a fan of that type of system. My 2012 has a limited slip differential, Oraaaah! It also has traction control...and I expect to be turning it off most of the time.