It is the stabilizer link...  I had to replace this on my '82 Diesel.

81 thru Nov. '84 use the same part.  After that, it is a different
part...

They can be re-cycled, if you find one in a junkyard.  Also, left or
right does not matter.

If you remove the broken piece (so you do not harm aything else) you
can drive the vanagon.  Handling will be much worse.

Good luck,
Cetin

Peter Eaton writes:
 > Came from the front end (pass. side) when I hit a small bump going into a 
 > parking lot last night.
 > 
 > (Sorry about this next part; I own a Bentley manual, but it's in storage 35 
 > miles from here)
 > 
 > What broke is a short (10 in.) S-shaped vertical rod in front of the coil 
 > spring....doesn't seem to be a part of the primary suspension, no is the 
 > steering affected.  I'm guessing the thing it attaches to at the top is a sway 

Cetin Seren
Service Provider Switching		phone:  412-635-3479
FORE Systems, Inc.			web:	www.fore.com
5800 Corporate Drive			fax:    412-635-3350
Pittsburgh, PA  15237                   e-mail: cseren@fore.com