for the back, pop off the wheels, remove the shocks/quad shocks and drop the rear and kick them out. once you drop the axle, the springs dont have any energy built up. for the fronts, pop off the wheels, TIE/CHAIN THE SPRING TO THE CHASSIS or some part of the car for saftey, remove the strut, unbolt the tie-rod end link, drop the A-Arm, and be careful while ur doing this. make sure you drop it slowly and dont stand infront of it, kinda stand off to the side.
for the gears, no idea. pick up a chiltons/haynes