I'm just in the process of repacking my 2.0l Kombi's universals, and replacing a couple of the boots. My mate reckons that there's benefit in end-for-ending the shaft, so that what was the outside uni becomes the inside one. That way, he says, there's a unworn section of the uni taking the drive loads.

Is that a load of hogwash ? Old wife's tales ?

If anybody has a convincing-sounding answer, let me know a.s.a.p. 'cause I'll be putting them back on in about 1/2 hour. Filthy job !!

Thanks,
Nitram

Hope it's not to late to reply.
If your talking about CV's???? then no problem (though not usually recommended). When you wash them out you can see the marks from the "driving direction" , install them so they drive on the un-warn face.
I have done this with shagged CV's and got a good 20,000 klms out of them.
IMPORTANT. Keep each CV as a set though, don't mix balls and inner/outers.
Also make sure they are very clean, and make sure you get the 90g CV grease into them as per the book.

One minor point is to have a good look at the balls. If they are too bad, I have heard of them splitting which causes all sorts of drama's.

Cheers,
Richard