ok so i take my fuel pump assembly off the tank and there looks to be some metal brillo pad thingy in the rubber boot around the bottom. is this supposed to be here?

 

yes it is.

 

yes, and make sure to buy a new gasket seal for the fuel pump before you put the pump back on because it will leak gasoline or wont seal properly...

 

And while you're at it, smear a little fuel lube on the gasket or Dow DC-4 or the like. It will improve the seal and keep the gasket from pinching.

Also, follow the torque guidlelines in the manual. If you overtorque, it's easy to strip those mount bolts and nuts.

The brillo pad this is the sediment screen, I believe, it should stay put.

--Paul