Steve,
The springs are only under heavy pressure if you have the truck sitting on them. They are also under a little reverse pressure when the truck is jacked up and the rear is hanging, if that makes sense.
To remove the rear springs, jack the truck up high enough to remove the wheels and set it on jack stands. Remove the wheels and then put the floor jack under the center of the rear and jack it up just a little to carry the weight of the rear...don't pick the truck up. Now put a second set of jack stands under the axle and lower the jack. Then remove the U-bolts, shackles and pins, the springs are now free.
Note, The rear at this point can still have the drive shaft, brake lines and E-brake cables connected.
Now that the springs are on the floor, put a big 8-10" C-clamp right in the middle of the pack next to the center bolt and tighten it up. Then remove the center bolt, no need to completely remove, just get the nut off. Then back the C-clamp off and the springs will flex themselves right off of the bolt. The pressure on the C-clamp is not much, it's just more than you can handle with your hands. That's it, you now have everything apart.
Good luck and be safe...
Mike B
