I found when I removed my old rear shocks that the new shocks were longer than the old one so I had to push the shock mount point down far enough to get the strut end on it. Easiest way I found was to just get a BFB (big F@#ken bar) and lever it down. Here are a couple of pictures. On the passenger side I wedged the BFB against the gas tank mounting bracket.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...7/P1030269.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...7/P1030267.jpg