No, I think flipping them side to side up front reverses the face that takes
force.  Hold your hands out like you're holding a basketball, then lace your
fingertips.  If you push with one hand, then turn your hands over, you'll
see that you push with the other side of your fingertips.

Another wrinkle:  what I just said is true if you assume power is being
applied all the time to the CVs by the driveshaft/VC.  But as we know,
that's not always the case.  If power isn't being provided by the diff, the
front wheels are being turned by the forward motion of the van, so the tires
would actually be turning the CVs, not the other way around, and this in
effect reverses the face that takes force in the CV.  So, my question for
some Dr. Rainer-type out there is, how frequently and how much force is
applied by the diff vs. by the front wheels?  If it's 50/50, there's no need
to flip the axles.
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."

> From: Matthew Pollard <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU>
> Reply-To: Matthew Pollard <poll7356@UIDAHO.EDU>
> Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 09:58:29 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: rotating cvs FOR A SYNCRO! front
>
> now lets add a twist... so to speak. Syncro fronts. I can ONLY swap sides
> and keep outer outer. So does this mean that swapping axles up front won't
> buy me any time? (syncro inner and out cvs ar different). that is what i
> though, nothing gained.
> cheers
> matthew
>
>
> Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
> Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
> University of Idaho
> www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356
>