"I'm sure this is going to be fun, this is a ford after all." Lol sounds like what I was saying the other day when I was fixing this exact problem on my truck
I have been wrestling with my back rotor for about 3 weeks now trying to figure out how to get them off, I finally got a puller and just completely tore the rotor off taking taking the breaking system with it, really wish I had this excellent video about about 2 weeks ago lol The parking brake shoes were stuck out like you mentioned and in deep grooves, preventing me from taking them off. The left one wasn't the issue as I hit it and it came off, but the right one was definitely siezed up and stuck open. 😬 Now moving on to find parts...
The ebrake is notorious for sticking on these. I found the easiest way is a long bolt through the caliper mounting hole, with a nut on the outside. Hold that nut with an open end and drive the bolt head with a socket or gun. As the bolt pushes against the back of the rotor, it will pop & release
When were you hearing the squeaking? I'm having what I think is this issue on my 2015 durango. Hearing some squealing which initially I thought was work brake pads but it wasn't. You can hear a loud squealing at low speed in a drive thru or stop and go traffic or When leaving a parking spot.
