brake question and suspension noise

[Rcflyer330]

so to start its a 2010 ford explorer v6 98k miles. here is what is happening i took the car to the dealership to diagnose my squishy breaks they came back with front brakes and rotors needed to be replaced. i decided not to have the dealership do them and did them myself. after i replaced them the brakes did feel better but is still very soft. (dealer said rear brakes where fine) the last time i did the brakes i did bleed them and changed the fluid.
any suggestions?

second problem that has been getting worse something in the rear suspension is squeaking basically if you shake the car it will make the noise. i have checked the sway bar links that is not the cause. the noise is coming from near the rear diff i am thinking its either the control arm bushings or the sway bar bushings on the frame of the vehicle. any other things that could be and how would i test those two bushings?

 

[swshawaii]

Spray the rear sway bar frame bushings thoroughly with water and push down on the bumper.
If the squeaking subsides remove and lubricate them with silicone grease or replace if worn.

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/9.11110

 

[swshawaii]

Apologies for ignoring your brake issue. If it's been longer than two years since you changed the fluid it's due for a complete flush.

Brake Pedal Feels Soft & spongy
http://www.aa1car.com/library/2003/bf90347.htm

 

[Rcflyer330]

Thanks swshawaii i will try that on the bushings. on the brakes its been almost 2 years if not more i cant remember when i flushed them the last time but it probably due again.

 

[Flag Gibby]

Just my preference, but anytime I change components in the brake system I bleed each line until I see fresh fluid. It is surprising how fast the fluid oxidizes.
Oh, and I hate the bias that Ford put in the brake system on these vehicles I really wish that they had put a greater percentage to the rear. I have been tempted to put in a brake bias adjuster just to be able to put more bias back into the rear, don't get me wrong I understand that these vehicles shift a lot of weight to the front under braking and that is why we always wear out the front so much faster but it always feels like it is too much (at least for the V6 engine). So I guess that maybe the best bet is to run two different compounds on the pads between the front and rear to try to compensate. Oh well, just something that has been bothering me about the braking system on this vehicle ever since I warped the front rotors in the first year of having this vehicle way back in 2006.