It's a brass shaft. Pull it apart, straighten it up, fix it.
Put the shaft on a flat piece of steel that only supports the shaft. Roll it till the bend is up, using something light, a piece of wood, tap it down. Don't smack it a flat spot it.
Once it's close enough to straight and will roll, a flat piece of steel, back and forth, rolling it, under pressure, it Otta straighten out.
If it doesn't work you can always spend the money. Take a swing at it first..

zevenenergie wrote on 09/17/24 at 23:51:48:


 As JOG said, don’t smack it…

Update on the zip-tie hack...

It's been working perfect and it doesn't "look cheap" because you can't see in unless your a car show judge with a mirror on a stick.  

I haven't been able to identify the rubber grommet and I'm not sure if it can be replaced without damaging the plunger knob.  I half-heatedly attempted to disassemble it but I wasn't willing to break the one I'm using.

ProCycle sells a knob that looks promising and a replacement rubber boot but I can't confirm it will fit.   ProCycle Knob

That might be an option but the OEM plunger that Dave linked earlier is probably your best bet if you don't want to use a zip tie.