Ford: 2001 Explorer Sport Brake/Axle Issues, rear brakes, gym shoes

Question
Hello.  My Explorer Sport has a little over 70K miles on it.  I had both the front and rear brakes done last January (2004) and ever since have had a lot of black brake dust off the front brakes.  I have just been keeping it clean.  

I washed my truck really well before thanksgiving, and soon after noticed a LOT of rust coming off the front wheels.  In addition to that, about two weeks ao I started feeling a slight rubbing sort of feeling while driving coming from the front end.  This worsened over the last two days and now it sounds sort of like gym shoes in a dryer.... thumping almost, I can feel the vibration only in the pedals of the car, not the steering wheel very much.  I can feel it very much when braking, however it is ALWAYS there.  It seems to be more pronounced when turning.  It could be the suspension or needing the tires rotated?

Maybe it is a build up of brake dust and the brakes just need to be cleaned, or should I get them in for repair, or is this a seperate issue all together.  I am a female and feel I get a run around at the dealer/from mechanics.

Thank you.

Answer
Amy what I want you to do is go to your auto parts store and tell  them you want to look at brake pads for your truck take a good look at them .Now go to your mach. and have them pull your wheels and take a look at the brakes and see if they are worn down. if they are have them replace with ceramic pads these won't make  any dust.also have them mic. the rotors.now before you do this we want to see if the problem is coming front or the rear.go down a side road and instead if putting your foot on the brake pedal I want you hold the emg.handle in your hand and pull on it while pushing down on the emg.  brake peddle and see if you still fell the vibration. if you do the problem is in the rear brakes if not  it is in the front