The Slider Pins are secured by threads at the end where the Hex Head is located. The short Hex Head Bolts sevure the Caliper to the vehicle spindle. This is the starting point.
I have said before but I will say it again. Remove the Caliper to Spindle bolts. Disconnect the hydraulic brake line. Install new Caliper and Pads. Reconnect Hydraulic brake line and bleed brake lines.
If you can’t do that procedure get someone who can . Brakes are too important to not do correctly.
Good Luck.
I have Serviced Ford Vehicles for 60 years.
Right, that's what I recall from all the brake jobs I've done in the past (maybe 10, total, the last a few years ago -- sometimes if my vehicle is in a shop, already "up", and the timing is handy, I have the shop do the brake job.) And, I've observed mechanics doing 'em, but none recently. Some of the discussion and even You Tube vids got me thinking Fords were somehow different, and I was approaching the job incorrectly, but yes, removal of the Caliper to Spindle Bolt has always been the first step of any brake job I've done or observed.
So, I'm stuck at "Step 1" (hex head Caliper bolts frozen), and will have at it again, this evening. After that, it should go smoothly.
Needing to always replace the Caliper is what bothers me. What you are really saying is that Ford brake Calipers are crap & don't hold up any longer than the pads.* Geez...
I have not been at it quite as long (or intensely) -- only 40+ years (with about half the brake jobs on my vehicles done by shops, not me) and have never run into a caliper problem or replacement. Granted that this is our 1st Ford, and that we have a Toyota Matrix that may also need a caliper replaced. (It appears the local mechanic who did the last brake job on the Toyota did not apply any lubricant, anywhere.)
I finally heard back from my (not local) mechanic buddy. He has run a top notch shop about 400 miles north of here for about 40 years - it is a much higher corrosion problems area - and he tells me that out of their brake jobs, they replace calipers about 10% of the time. His "off the top of the head" inclination was that they may replace more Ford brake calipers than, say, Honda or Toyota, but they've never actually tracked that.
*This (Explorer) is "going to have to do" for a few years. After that, I think we'll hold out (and save more pennies) for a nice used Toyota Sequoia, next time...
Thanks for the info., and good luck in whatever is your next project, too!