I ended up reinforcing my radius rods on my 86 wagon with angle iron.  I welded it on top and bottom to where it actually makes a box around the radius rod.  Had held up a lot better than just the stock setup.  As far as the control arm bending, I never did do anything about that, I just swapped them out with other used ones.  I didnt really want to put a lot of heat to the metal since there isnt a lot there.  

One of the radius rods I bent in these videos was already reinforced with angle iron.  It just bent hard at the very end where it meets the mounting plate.

 

This was meant to be a push it to the limits kinda run.  I ussually don't wheel quite that "balls out"