Dumb question about downtravel

My trucks have always had leaf springs. With leaves, the spring itself will typically limit droop, but if you get squishy enough springs, you can end up where the shock is the limiting factor (bad), so you either fab something up for longer shocks, or use limit straps.

Now, with my Tacoma and springover/strut front suspension, I'm unclear on what limits the downtravel. When I replaced my struts I had to loosen up the lower control arm to get it to drop out of the way. So there must be some kind of stop in the lower arm itself? Seems like something people could modify to allow more travel? How do people think about this?

 

Downtravel is limited either by full shock extension or by the upper control arm hitting the coil spring. If you want more travel while still using the stock attachment points, you need to go outward with the upper & lower control arms/ball joints, widening the stance.
Check out this forum section: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/long-travel-suspension.113/

 

So what's the deal with the LCA not dropping down vertical when disconnected from everything? I had to loosen the alignment bolts to get it to drop away.

 

The bushings integrated into the control arms are not your typical style. They are made of some sort of rubber material which restricts movement in general. Once they are tightened by the control arm bolts the issue is amplified even more.

If you want more range of motion polyurethane bushing replacements are the way to go or if not available, full control arm assemblies are the only way to go.