After some wheeling the other week, I noticed some clunking noises coming from the rear of the truck.

I discovered the following (see pictures). The left rear sway back bracket bent upwards, coming in close contact with the fuel tank and mangled bushings. Is a bent bracket a fairly common occurrence after moderate to substantial articulation? I plan on just removing the rear sway bar assembly at this point.

 

Those sway bar end links are supposed to face down iirc

If you have a lift ditch the sway bars, they do more harm then good

 

You just answered your own question, you didn't plan far enough ahead.

The only thing the sway bars do mechanically is touch both sides of the axle with a double ball-jointed looking thingy. The tin foil like structure attached to the frame is simply to hold the sway bar from spinning away like a frisbee after a roll-over. When I attempt a somewhat high-speed 14.5 mph corner my just filled tank registers empty and I can hear the float hi-five the fuel tank bottom.

 

Your right Tom the link ends are pointed in the wrong direction.

 

I want to do something like this on my '95. Extend the links so it makes the front work harder.