[woodiewagon46]

I would recommend doing it the way V8 suggests. Once the rear is out of the car it's easier to work on. Don't take the spring tension lightly. I usually remove the cotter pins and loosen the shackle nuts first. Once the spreader gets the tension off the shackles, you can see them go "slack". Remove the nuts and shackle bar from one side and then proceed to the other side. Release the tension from the spring and you are good to go.