what would cause rear brakes to go out before front?

If your rear brakes are wearing out faster than the front brakes you might have a problem with your master cylinder. You did not give enough information. Does your Explorer stop good? It should go from 60-0 mph in 8.52 seconds or 170 feet.

And there is also a recall on that vehicle:

5. NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 99V123000 - Hide Details

Recall Date:

05/18/1999

Summary:

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE TO THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT (HCU) CONNECTION COULD SEPARATE CAUSING THE LINE TO LEAK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED.

Consequence:

THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKE PRESSURE TO THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLARE NUT ON THE BRAKE LINE.

Potential Units Affected:

15681

Generaly speaking. your friend is right. There is more wear on the front pads than the rear. If the size of front & rear pads were the same, then you would change the front pads more frecuently.

However, front and read pads are different in most vehicles for the same reason, and driving habits are a significant contribuitor for pads duration. In your case, I would say that you managed to get excellent milage out of those pads.

Take also in account that, when replacing pads, if the Mechanic found the rear pads 3/4 worn, and the front completely worn, Changing only the front ones would have little sense.

Wow!

MY hubby burped and said ....'good thing you've got a Ford'.

BUT, if you would like to buy a '65 1/2 ton. twin I-beam suspension....... and it is soooooo easy to work on too.

$500. will get you this beauty.

I named her Mavis. She is green and white...

All I can really say is that you DO have allot of good answers!!!

And ...... keep buyin' them Fords....oh, and I hate to say it but.....here we call the Explorer....Exploders.

Actually that sounds pretty darn good to me. You have averaged almost 70,000 miles to a change of pads. That is better than normal.

brakes missadjusted, or the E- brake left partly on. Also drum or rotor could be warped.

sounds to me that you are not changing your front brakes as soon as they are needed but 2 sets in 7yrs ist that bad