I had the same thing happen to my 87 Syncro last spring and ultimately it
meant that my tranny was on its last leg, but that's another story.
I pulled the shifter rod out (now in two peices) by disconnecting it from
the linkage located in the box right behind and above the spare tire. The
base and spring assembly in the floor will also need to come out: mark it's
position for ease in reassembly. The rod broke right where a divet is
drilled for the set screw of the spring collar. I had a friend machine a 4
inch long steel rod down to the inside diameter of the shift rod (I bet you
could find one about the right size at a good hardware store), inserted it
to join the two pieces, and welded the whole thing back together, stronger
than original. Of course, all of this requires shop access and all that, but
I found the repair pretty simple overall. You can find replacements at
salvage yards, but as I understand it, 5 speed levers are different from 4
speed ones and they are near impossible to tell apart unless they haven't
removed the knob.
Good luck and check your transmission to figure out why shifting took so
much effort!

Brad Anderson
87 Vanagon Syncro
87 Golf
70 911E

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Stratton [SMTP:dave@MTBA.ORG]
> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 2:59 PM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      shift lever broke
>
> Well, about a week ago I was having trouble with wacking my knuckles on
> the
> dash.  No longer! No shift lever. The blasted thing broke off above the
> pivot, below the boot.  My feeling is that I should go with new.  Has
> anyone
> had to replace this lever and done so with one from a wrecking yard?
> Dealer
> says he can have one in about ten days.  I don't really want to wait ten
> days.  Any help or suggestions welcome.
>
> By the way it was Per Lindgren who pegged the problem over a week ago.  I
> should have listened.
>
> Dave Stratton
> Great Falls, MT
> 87 GL