Tips on replacing brake pads on a 2005 ford explorer?

I've done lots of brake jobs but always on older pre 2000 cars.
-Is it the same on newer cars?
-Do I need to mess with proportioning valves or anything?
-never done 4 wheel discs so is there a special order in which I should change them or bleed them?
- is there any kinda of sensors I need to reset and if so, how do I reset them?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You shouldn't have to bleed them, just drive the pistons back in with a large C clamp. Grease the slide bolts with silicone grease and replace the bolt seals if they are damaged. It's always a good idea to hit the caliper edge and mount with a file real quick to knock off any built up rust that may cause binding later on.

Rolomatic pretty much got it to add to it though after the third tire or so check the master cylinder reservoir to make sure it won't over flow. Depending on the brake pads you buy now a days they may need the brake hardware off the old set so make sure you get all the clips and vibration pad if it has one. And pick up a few of those little brake gel packets near the register to keep everything from chattering. Just like the old brakes give them a few hundred miles to wear in a bit then decide if you would like to bleed them. Most likely not but you never know.

If the car has ABS and you simply cram the piston back into the caliper with a big C-Clamp, you can damage the ABS sensor. Crack the bleeder valve open, then cram the cylinder back. Close the bleeder and top off at the master cylinder reservoir.

Other than that, it's pretty much the same as replacing pads on any disk brake setup since at least the 1960s.

Take it to a garge.