In a message dated 98-08-06 21:32:09 EDT, Bill K. wrote:

<<  whats likely to be the damage on a n 87 syncro westy
with 150000 miles? >>

With that many miles and the vintage of the VW I'd say that
the 3rd/4th slider hub is cracked.   Thats a common failure
point with 094 gearboxes with the factory orginal hub.  The
newer updated versions just about eliminate that tendency.
I always install a new hub- no matter how good the orginal
one looks.  In short, its probably rebuild time for the trans.
Its a fairly expensive job, mine start at $850 and have gone
as high as $2200 for just the transaxle alone.  Thats a semi-
rare occurrence and it was a total replacement as the case,
ring and pinion, gears, yadda, yadda, yadda, were just junk.

Todd Hill
VolksWerks Transaxles
Olympia, WA