Hi Harold, I did it exactly as you described. I did not disconnect the springs. I jacked up the rear and put the front of the rear frame rails (near the front of the leaf spring) on jack stands.

it wasn't super easy, but I did it by myself. It is much easier with two I imagine! once the backing plates, axles and perch bolts are off you put a floor jack under the pumpkin raise it, and push it to one side to have the perches off to the side of the springs. Then pull the side that has the perch inside the springs so that it rotates towards the rear of the car. Then tilt that same side down and pull the other side out. The exhaust pipes might interfere a bit.

I hope that makes sense?