yeah, early busses, late 50's early 60's, had gear reduction hubs.  This
raised the ground clearance as the configuration was one gear above the
other in a housing.  The other result was that differential was reversed to
accomodate rotation reversal by the hub arrangement.

The rear suspension set up used to be used on dune buggies to raise the
ground clearance and drop rpm/increase torque to wheels.

By the late 60's and 70's (i.e. loaf version of bus) they were no longer used.

I doubt that they could be grafted to the Vanagon suspension, 2wd or syncro.

Ch

'89 SyncroBeast Vanagon - Soon to come - New Shocks for the Syncro!
                                 Soon as I get rid of the rust.  ugh - rust
'87 16V GTI
'80 850 Yamaha Special
'87 16V GTI w/ hale damage - parting out - body gone, parts remain
'89 16V GTI w/ toasted motor
'86 Scirocco (8 valve w/ auto) - SO's

Prior Lake, MinneSnowta

**** SNIP ORIGINAL ****

Message: 3
   Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 09:36:26 -0600
   From: "Andrew C. Parker" <acparker@xmission.com>
Subject: Gear Reduction Hubs

I have heard it mentioned that Volkswagen used gear reduction hubs on
some Type 181's and Busses.  I also remember their being used in an
all-wheel-drive Porsche Baja racer some years back.  A question then,
could these be utilized practically in a Syncro, or would it take a team
of Porsche engineers and a million dollars to do it?  I searched the
Vanagon and Syncro List archives and there was no mention of it.

Just a thought,

Andrew Parker
acparker@xmission.com