As strange as this may sound, and I haven't tried it on my van, I use a
product called White Lightening, which is a wax/parafin based chain lube for
bicycles. Works exceptionally well at lubing chains when used in
desert/sandy conditions. The wax is "transported" by an alcohol base, which
then dries/evaporates, leaving the wax to lube the chain, and does not
attract the sand. I bet this would work very well on the linkage joint we're
discussing here.
The way I use it is to completely clean the chain, leaving it to dry, then
apply the WL lube.

Bob Stevens

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