30,000 miles on my 2010 Report

You missed my point.
In terms of brake wear, Traction control = riding the brakes. Lenght of time is different but never the less for brake pads there is no difference between foot resting on brake or traction control applying brakes. So in essence with traction control it should be expected that pads and rotors will need replacing sooner. How soon depends on how much you use traction and that depends on road conditions. Thats why for those who are very often at the mercy of mother nature that system is simply expensive to maintain. Mechanical traction aids are way to go.

 

Well Blue, I don't feel my brakes being applied at all while I am driving... that would be just plain stupid.. and we know Toyota isn't a stupid car company.

If you gas the truck while turning sharp, like at an intersection... without TRAC the outside tire spins free (like a burnout)... that is wasted energy and serves only to entertain the inner child we all have. TRAC will try to prevent that tire from burning out or slipping... by regulating engine output and braking that one tire... If you accelerate gently, the TRAC will have no need to activate.

In 4WD, or in AUTO LSD the TRAC system does not regulate engine output, it only brakes the spinning tire... again all the more to help you move faster than standing still spinning the tire. In all cases, the system is designed to help you accelerate and move... NOT slow you down.

What do you think happens in a mechanical limited slip differential??? Clutches or some other mechanism inside the differential BRAKES the one side leading to the slipping tire, so energy transfers to the traction tire.

When the clutch (brake) pads wear out in a Limited Slip Diff., you are in need of some expensive rebuilding and probably can't drive the truck.

When the brake pads (that we already have do the same thing as they do slowing our truck all day long) wear out, we have the brakes serviced... the truck is still drivable for a period of time until we get that done. I bet a brake job is cheaper than rebuilding a differential, too?