Fireup, I tried different lube's also and will be curious as to the end result of your quest. I was never successful in the long run.
Atwood made that assembly (they probably supplied the door also) and the long piece (brace) that slides through the compression was modified slightly at some point. I have a new one I never installed & it is different than the 2003 version. Perhaps to cure the snapping?
I should have the engineering drawing of it, I'll look when I return in a couple of days.
The semi-pointed rubbery looking piece mounts to the door frame with 2 screws. It acts as a guide for the "brace" which passes through it to the door jamb pivot which then has a pin to the door frame on the coach. It is almost impossible to see inside the door but if you have the 2 screws where the "brace" comes out you also have that guide.
