Disc brake protection from sand driving D4 MY 2016

[AJSA]

Hi,
Family are looking at doing some basic sand driving near Brisbane and I wanted to know if there is anything required to be fitted to protect the rear disc brakes from sand. I read using brakes in sand without aftermarket covers allows sand to stick to the pads and disc causing unnecessary accelerated wear and eventual early replacement to pads and discs.
Is it correct that extra after market protection /covers are required / advised to be fitted prior to sand driving?
thanks in advance

[PerthDisco]

No

[kelvo]

I read using brakes in sand without aftermarket covers allows sand to stick to the pads and disc causing unnecessary accelerated wear and eventual early replacement to pads and discs.

Did you read this in an advertisement for rear disc brake covers by any chance

[Geedublya]

Disc brakes are by nature self cleaning and that is one of their advantages over drums. Covers will probably only restrict air flow to the discs and caliper. It might be a good idea to wash out the parking brake drums if you bury the rear wheels in the sand but otherwise you will be fine sand driving without covers.

There are a couple of things to remember when sand driving in a D4.

1. Reduce your tyre pressures. Try 18psi, if you find yourself getting stuck go lower.
2. Turn off ESC every time you get in the car. The ESC system detects the movement of the car body in sand as instability and will cut power and apply brakes at inconvenient times. It has to be turned off every time you re-start.

[ATH]

I think it's called the DSC in my 2016 D4. Turn it off if you use the terrain response or after you've switched off the ignition. Leaving it on because I forget is a mistake I always make.........
AlanH.

[PerthDisco]

Did you read this in an advertisement for rear disc brake covers by any chance

An ACME product for sure

[SeanC]

I think it's called the DSC in my 2016 D4. Turn it off if you use the terrain response or after you've switched off the ignition. Leaving it on because I forget is a mistake I always make.........
AlanH.

The memories.

First time on the beach in my D3. DSC off, sand mode, off-road height. All good
60 km/h along the beach. Let’s stop and have a look at that. Car off car on.
Ok time to exit the beach. You don’t get far in soft sand with DSC on at on road height.
Haven’t done it since.

One thing I did notice was when I was bogged was even though you revved the motor in drive or reverse the wheels weren’t turning. I thought I’d broken something. After snatch recovery all was good. Anyone else experience this.

Done a lot of sand driving and no excess wear of the discs and pads.

[scarry]

The memories.

First time on the beach in my D3. DSC off, sand mode, off-road height. All good
60 km/h along the beach. Let’s stop and have a look at that. Car off car on.
Ok time to exit the beach. You don’t get far in soft sand with DSC on at on road height.
Haven’t done it since.

One thing I did notice was when I was bogged was even though you revved the motor in drive or reverse the wheels weren’t turning. I thought I’d broken something. After snatch recovery all was good. Anyone else experience this.

Done a lot of sand driving and no excess wear of the discs and pads.

Did exactly the same coming off the Eastern beach on Moreton island,at dusk,when the D4 was newish.
Haven't done it again either.

The difference with your story to ours, is, no one came along and we had to dig it out,and by the time that was done it was very dark.
And we were exhausted,bloody hard work that digging.Took well over 2 hours,lowered tyres from 18 to 12 PSI,didn't help much.

Cant remember which wheels were spinning,Rock crawl is the best to get all to spin together.

[ATH]

My vote for rock crawl as well. I have used it a couple of times and the most recent was at Carawine Gorge when I accidently drove into the big shale area by mistake.... with our small van in tow as well.
All eyes from the "tough as, unstoppable unbreakables" were on us but into rock crawl and off we went with beating heart and got through just so easy. I was so relieved and I love the "D' even more.
AlanH.

[PerthDisco]

The memories.

First time on the beach in my D3. DSC off, sand mode, off-road height. All good
60 km/h along the beach. Let’s stop and have a look at that. Car off car on.
Ok time to exit the beach. You don’t get far in soft sand with DSC on at on road height.
Haven’t done it since.

One thing I did notice was when I was bogged was even though you revved the motor in drive or reverse the wheels weren’t turning. I thought I’d broken something. After snatch recovery all was good. Anyone else experience this.

Done a lot of sand driving and no excess wear of the discs and pads.

If mixed with mud sand becomes highly abrasive to everything.