Front leaf spring bushing HELP!!

[Jennandrand]

Tackling replacing the front leaf spring bushings. The rear shackle bolts came out, and the leaf spring dropped down, giving easy access to remove and replace the bushings.
Next comes the pita of removing the bolt on the front of the leaf spring. It's rusted up pretty good, but I manage to pop it out by torching the edges of the rubber that I could get to, then prying the rubber out with a screwdriver and hammering the bolt through. OOPS! Just realized the front won't drop down like the rear did, its encased in a bracket of sorts, and the bracket doesn't appear to be meant to be taken off.
Question is how to I get to the bushing? Will I have to remove the entire leaf spring? Can I loosen the U bolts, remove the shackle bolts, and slide the leafs back enough to get to the bushing?