I'm trying to answer an M104 question with an M103 mindset so bear with me. If the bracket you mentioned is the chicken foot thing that hooks to the power steering bracket at two points, the timing chain cover at the far point and has the big tensioner bolt going right through it then I guess it has to come off as well. However, I think that with the belt off you can swing the tensioner arm to a position in which the chicken foot bracket doesn't have to come off to access the shock lower bolt.

If the chicken foot bracket has to come off, hold the tensioner in place with one hand as you spin off the bolt and let the chicken foot bracket fall out of place. Then refit the big bolt so you don't have to mess with looking for the threads the big bolt goes into when putting things back together.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD