[jakeru]

If you need to disconnect the rear swaybar to accomplish whatever it is that you're doing, that's going to be easiest when both sides are completely even. Trying to disconnect a swaybar when there is any stress or loading through is not a good idea.

If you have the strut top disconnected on one side, but then unload the tires on both sides while the swaybar is still hooked up, the strut top should drop some, but its downward travel will be resisted (and probably limited some) by upward force from the swaybar.

If you disconnect the swaybar, it may allow the strut top to down further.

The other "spring like" force that could limit and resist downward travel is the rubber inner a-arm (coffin arm) bushing. To relieve that torsional resistance, however, will mean messing up your vehicle's alignment (necessitating getting it realigned afterward), so you might tend to try an avoid doing it.