Whats involved in changing front shocks?
#21
#22
#23
If you're lucky, the new shocks will have the strap on them (to make them fit in the box) and if you leave it on then it will stay compressed until you get the shock tower bolted back on and get the washer and rubber grommet on the shock. Then you clip it and guide the shock into the shock tower as it extends.
that way the extended shock is not such a pain.
or you can put a floor jack under the bottom of the shock and jack it up to compress it.