Sounds like a in need of grease CV, or a loose CV, or a failing CV. I've had all 3 and they have all sounded about the same, at least initially. When they all of a sudden come loose there's no mistaking that sound. 
I believe the only different length axles are the automatics, regardless of year. 

Bob

Sent from DAS4X4

> On Feb 10, 2014, at 8:20 AM, T Collins <tonycollin@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Im asking for your opinions as to identify a bad CV joint.
> 
> I had for sometime heard a little clunking back there, to the rear
> passenger side of the vanagon. That clunking would come and go never bad,
> or caused vibration or anything, It would appear and then simply vanish.
> 
> Now this clunking is more of a ruckus since last week. I got stuck on a
> slope over a sheet of ice. So I spun hard on the axles (or the one) due to
> the sheet of ice. Last Friday coming home I heard the clunk, clunk at
> highway speed with a particularly bad vibration.
> 
> Had not driven the vanagon this weekend and on the way to work the clunk,
> clunk was there as described from Friday.
> 
> I had not seen any rips on the boots.
> 
> 1) ANY chance a brake pad could cause the same?
> 2) Does it sound to you guys that the axle is on the way out?
> 3) One more think, In manual 85 GL vanagon tin tops are the axles the same
> right and left?
> 
> All this while it sucks to work on cars outside.
> 
> Thanks,
> T.