it's true that they wear one way from the balls pushing into the center part
, and if you make them drive the other way ......
you'll get the balls to push on fresh material, thus extending their life.

there's some serious write-ups about this online somewhere.
Normally my mind is pretty good about 'spatial orientation'
stuff........but this one is a challenge.
I think if you swap an axle end-for-end..........it still pushes on the
insides of each CV the same way.

I 'think' you have to swap them end-for-end, and side-to-side on the van to
achieve the desired affect.
- Which you could only do on a manual trans van with identical length rear
axles. Auto trans has one short and one long axle, so not easily done.....
IF that is the solution.
I will look forward to enlightened discussion on this very vanagon matter.
Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Bawden" <goldfieldgary@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 1:33 PM
Subject: CV joint reversal?

> Greetings Vanagonauts,
>
> Not long ago someone mentioned reversing the CV joints while they were
> out for longer wear - - does this mean just reversing the axle
> end-for-end, or taking the CV joints off, and putting them back on
> flipped over? Does it matter? I've got until the weekend to ponder
> this,
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary