Down Travel Limit

Which should be limiting the down travel for the rear.....the leafs or the shock?

My current set up, the shock limits the down travel. The leaf maybe has another inch when unrestrained by the shock's extended limit. Is this okay to have that tension in the extended shock?

 

The OEM design relies on the shock to limit the rear travel. Most aftermarket options are also designed the same and will use the shock to determine down travel. The leafs are usually capable for more travel then a shock mounted in the factory mounting tabs/shock mount.... Unless of course you get crafty with shock mounting to allow for added travel while still mounted in the stock location:
http://iconvehicledynamics.com/shop/715-2016-up-toyota-tacoma-rxt-rear-suspension-systems


It's common for a longer/"Ext" shock to be used to allow you access to the added down travel but it's trade off. A shock with a longer compressed length then stock will require a bump stop spacer or a longer bump stop to prevent the shock from bottoming out. So you can get more down travel by limiting compression but your overall travel remains the the same.

 

Most aftermarket shocks are made to limit droop on OEM applications.