drop shackles?

how hard is it to install a set of rear drop shackles? i just got some ordered. what is the easiest way to let the tension off of the leaf spring when doing this? i changed some shackles on a old cj7 that i had and it was a pain getting them bolted back on because of the spring tension. any help would be great.

Block the front tires front side and back side. Loosen both bolts/nuts. Lift the truck, not the axle, until the wheels just about come of the ground and remove the nuts and bolts. Replace with new shackles and reverse your process. You might want to spray something on the threads and nuts prior to doing the work to get the nuts loose.

What Jethro said, if you have a tall enough jack. If not jack up the back of the truck and put it on stands at the frame rails in front of the rear tires. Then lift the rear axle at the center (sorry jethro, but this is safer). Loosen your shackle nuts, and play with the jack under the axle up/down until you can drive the bolt out with a punch. You may even be able to remove them by hand, but I like the punch better. It'll probably go a little easier if you do one side at time. I did a 4" lift on my Blazer last year, that involved completely changing my front springs. I had 2 teenagers for heavy work, but it was done in less than 3 hours, and I probably could have done it alone in the same amount of time (less verbal "instruction" time).
Pardon me about that faux pas on your wheels Jethro, but I do think you have one of the nicest looking trucks on this forum, and you didn't try to over glitz it. And those black wheels really compliment the rest of the color scheme.

Please correct a safety issue any time. I had it in my mind but never wrote it. If you ain't alive you can't drive.

Thanks for noticing the rest of the truck not just the rims as others do. Even though you mixed up the trucks I feel you gave me a compliment by noticing the black and smooth effect. All the other lines and colors complicated the look so I chose to use black throughout. Hard to do when I first started the idea. Again thanks for the compliment.

yes i also agree that it is a great looking truck and thanks for all the help from everyone. it makes the job a little easier when you can ask someone that has already completed the task. i should be getting my shackles in the middle of the week. my buddy has a lift i may go use it to do the job.