There is a possible fix to this problem.
I've noticed as I wrecked out many Vanagons that there have been larger
rear wheel brake cylinders on some of them. I can't say that this will
cure the problem of swapping ends on icy roads but I'd speculate that a
more balanced braking system would be an advantage.
I'll disassemble and measure a few of the cylinders I've got around here
and try to post part numbers for both the small and larger wheel
cylinders.

Stan Wilder

On Thu, 10 Jan 2002 10:04:45 EST Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM> writes:
> In a message dated 1/10/02 9:48:22 AM, MSTEBBIN@MSVU1.MSVU.CA
> writes:
>
> << I was musing the other day about what would
> happen IF!, when going downhill, and the rear of the van skidding
> out to the side -- What would happen if the driver were to apply
> the
> parking brake - either a lot or a little.  Seems to me that the
> resulting
> drag (from applying the parking brake) >>
>
> When the ass-end is sliding, the wheels have already stopped
> turning, so,
> other than eliminating any possibility of recovering from the slide,
> jacking
> on the emergency brake would only be an exercise in futility.
>
> Rich
>
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