Date:         Thu, 20 Apr 2000 20:06:17 EDT
Reply-To:     Roq8cyans@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rusty Johnson <Roq8cyans@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: FW: CV Joint Swapping
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Flipping the axleshafts end-for-end *will* reverse their direction of
rotation.  (Whether that will help them last longer, I do not know.)  To
visualize this reversal, hold both hands in front of you, level, and extend
your thumbs and pinkies as close to straight out as possible, leaving the
other 3 fingers curled a little bit.  (I really am going somewhere with this,
so bear with me.)  Your hands should look like the following ASCII art:

        fingers
pinkie _III_  thumbs _III_ pinkie
           I I                 I I
           I I                 I I
       left arm        right arm

Now, pretend your hands are the axles.  Your thumbs are pointing toward the
differential, pinkies toward the wheels.  Your remaining 3 fingers on each
hand are curled in the direction of rotation for forward travel, right?  If
this isn't clear, try this: bend your wrists as far up (back) as you can,
then flop them down while trying to keep your extended pinkies and thumbs in
the same place, as though "rolling forward" (you have to lift your forearms
slightly as you bend your wrists down).
    Now, let's flip the "axles" end-for-end -- rotate your wrists so that
your pinkies point in, and your thumbs point out.  Notice that now your other
3 fingers on each hand point *backward*, that is, opposite the direction of
rotation for forward travel.  Flop your wrists again to make this clear, if
it isn't yet.
    Besides, it's good exercise for relieving Carpal Tunnel Syndrome :-)

Rusty J
'80 WedgeFalia -- The mysterious "Smoking Van", from The Vw-Files
"The Fahrvergnugen Is Out There"

>Steve Sullivan wrote:

>>                 Wrong. Wrong! Whattayamean, wrong? Seriously, I did swap
>> mine end for end keeping the same axle on each side. Will something go
wrong
>> because of this? Do I have to go under there and swap them back. PLEASE
tell
>> I can just leave it as is. . .

Per Lindgren replied:
>You can leave as is, but it will not reduce the wear in any way, the wear is
>just like before you turned them around.