Your experience is pretty typical. I just put new brake pads on my Discovery II. Took about 1.5 hours on one side because I forgot that the washer on the retaining bolt that holds one end of the caliper is rectangular, not square. You remove only that bolt, swing down the caliper, replace the pads, and swing it back into place. But the bolt will not line up back in the hole if that dang washer gets turned 90 degrees. Almost thought I was going to have to give up and call a wrecker and take it to a shop. Then I just experimented by turning that washer back 90 degrees. Presto, went back together perfectly.

Other side took me less than five minutes after the tire was off.

Then again, that's the only way you learn.

Keep it up.