sway bar bushing play.

I just got back from hatfield mccoy trails just over a week ago. The last day the rear end made noise only when the body rolled or 1 side went over something. Noises drive me nuts. If i grab my sway bar and push it towards the other side of the machine it has 1/4-1/2" of play. It makes a knocking noise. I checked a new 15 at the dealer and it has zero play. So i ordered bushings thinking it had to be worn. It is still the same. Anybody else confirm that there sway bar moves ,or doesn’t move from passenger side to drivers side.And if it didn’t do it before and the bushings are good how could the noise have started? I’ve read that people tighten the links.