What you are looking at there is what's left of the crossmember directly above the rear axle. That is the one the top of the shocks mounts to. The car had air shocks at one point and they (the shocks) removed half of the support. The rusty area is the bottom of the floor that was exposed by the removal of the crossmember.
I think that "HORROR STORY" you read was on my Maverick.. punched a hole right through the trunk.. I just ordered some KYB (As recommended by the nice folks on here) yesterday and im yanking my Air Shocks off and in the trash they are going! Chaz.
