Marlin...I have bent mine several times.Ihave just bent them back using a small jack. You must just notbe trying hard enough. As a matter of fact they are bent now.
As for the bent SF links...if you have rock sliders they interfear with the movement.
That is nice to know, I will not be buying new ones, no new stuff unless I break old stuff first. As for trying hard enough...you know better.LOL.