Bicycle Mechanics - Replacing Shifters: Easy, Hard? Instructions?

Hi All
Need to replace my shifters (Shimano Alivio's from ca.2000). One is failing on me; it's sticky and otherwise recalcitrant. Anyway, I've ordered the replacements.

I'm a decent mechanic, so I'm not overly concerned about this procedure, but as I've never specifically done one, am wondering about it--for instance: do instructions come with the replacements, usually?

If not, is there link to a page with a good detailed overview of the procedure that someone could clue me in to? I've seached the forums without much luck--

Thanks so much-

Exactly what kind of shifter is this? If it's a mountain/hybrid style of shifter, it is as simple as removing it from the handlebar (after removing grips and brake levers as necessary), sliding the new one on, and hooking up and adjusting the cable.

Getting the cable out of the old shifter will usually require disconnecting it at the derailer end and sliding it all the way out through the shifter somehow.

Read Shimano's instruction sheet that will be (I hope) packed with the shifters or go to Shimano's web site and down load the instruction sheet.

As strange as this may sound, reading the directions can be useful. :)

Seriously, the manufacturer's instruction sheets all give detailed installation and set-up instructions and are a WAY underutilized resource.

They're mountain style, thumbshifters, below the bars. Boy, if that's all there is to it, it'll be a breeze.

Doesn't get any easier than that really.

Should be fairly easy then. The toughest part may very well be figuring out how the cable comes out of the shifter to be installed in the new one. If the new shifters come pre-strung with a new cable, then you're home free. Just pull the old cables out of the bike with the shifters and use the new ones in their place.

Thanks all--I'll post a follow-up as to how it goes (I know I'm personally always looking for that final post when others are doing something--sums it all up nicely!)

Thanks again-

All went well. Got the shifters today in the mail, and had them on the bike and working in a couple hours of easy, methodical work. Didn't want to blow it, it being my first time at this, so I took my time. No surprises, thankfully!

The instructions were dense--tons of stuff there, much of it for things that weren't specific to my situation, but after reading it all I was able to pick out the parts that made sense for my case. Bottom line is that they work well and shift great. They're actually a little heavier than the old ones--they're a near perfect match, the design hasn't changed much in the 6 intervening model years, but they're obviously more robust. I may have to do a little adjusting here and there, but for now, they're fine. I'm happy!

Thanks for the help!

So what did you put on?

Sorry--I simply got the closest thing to a direct replacement I could find--a set of Alivio shifters (SL-MC20). They were $17.99 for the pair at Nashbar after a 10% discount, which for me was the right price given my circumstances...