Anybody done this before?

Not sure what extra steps I need to separate the calipers from the rotors since the calipers sit inside the special carrier....or is it even an issue since I'm not doing anything with the rotors?

 

Piece of cake. You do not need to review the carrier. Remove the two bolts holding the caliper to the carrier. Slide caliper off of rotor. Pads can now be removed from the carrier.

New pads will be thicker and you probably won't be able to get the caliper over the new pads. Temporarily remove the brake fluid reservoir lid. Using a caliper piston compressor or a c-clamp, slowly compress the caliper pistons back into the caliper body. Put lid back on brake fluid reservoir. Slide caliper over new pads and re-tighten caliper to carrier bolts.

Make sure to bed in new pads with the method described by the pad manufacturer.

John