I gunned it in first gear. I was actually rolling slightly at the time too. But I was decoupled, so ALL of the engine power essentially went to the rear (and that usually means most of the power to one wheel).

Almost any Syncro Westy can do this. It just takes the right combo of load and engine torque. Karl did it with his TDI horsing around on some very steep dirt mounds in the  George Washington National Forest. When Derek grenaded his CV, he was on my challenge road at a steep angle (Derek's got a stock engine, but he's redone the transmission and runs 16" wheels and monster tires).

Brady has done it with his Zetec.

In my case...well I had a "bad" CV on the left rear a few months ago. Rather than diagnose whether it was the inner or outer, I swapped in a complete shaft that I had just purchased from Volks-Cafe. That's what I sheared.

When I grenaded the right rear CV, I took the old left shaft with the bad CVs, replaced both CVs and put that on my right rear. And I just put another new half shaft and CVs on the left to replace the sheared one.

On Wednesday, November 01, 2006, at 08:10AM, "Tom Salicos" <Tom@SALICOS.COM> wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 10:52 PM
>Subject: Nutz...
>
>
>>> This time I sheared the axle cleanly on the left rear (inside).
>
>> 'Tis a dangerous thing to have lots of power in a Vanagon....
>>
>>
>
>
>Gunned it in what gear?  If I gun mine in first I have to shift in about two
>seconds.
>
>Maybe it's a gradual metal fatigue thing.  Do you drive it hard a lot?
>
>Tom Salicos
>'87 Syncro Westy, EG-33
>
>