Replaced all four corners on my 2018 SCAB. Rotors were the "Adaptive One" coated from NAPA and AKERBONO Pro-Active pads. All were labeled "MADE IN USA" on their respective boxes. I hope that means that they are actually made here and not just boxed here, but doubt it. Rotor machining appears to be very high quality so overall looking as good or better than OE. In 2018 Ford did away with the double hump inboard pads OE but the replacement had the double hump, so make sure they are installed in the inside.
Total cost was about $690.

 

I'm literally putting the exact same pads on my 2018 SCAB tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up!

 

Akebono, Baer, Dexter, EBC, FDP, Wilwood, SSBC, and quite a few others make brake pads in the US. There are a number of quality manufacturers in Germany and Taiwan as well. Probably a litany list of additional nations producing quality brake components.

 

Many auto parts manufacturers are still in the US, although Mexico has been too tempting for some (looking at you Moog). Thanks for supporting the US economy!

 

Any squealing with the Akebono pads? I have them on my Mercedes and they will typically squeal when cold.

 

I used Wagner OEx when I did the rear, box marked "Made in Mexico." Motorcraft rotors, boxes marked "Made in Canada." Been satisfied with both so far. No humps on these pads. Will be doing the front with the Wagners soon. Akebono has a fairly new plant in Meriwether County, GA, not far from Newnan where I live.

Anyone doing rear brake with the electric E brake, remember to put the system in "maintenance mode" before starting repairs.

 

Brakes feel good. Silent, smooth. A bit less bite on the pads so they need just a bit more pedal pressure compared to OE. Surprise isn't pads made in the US, it's the rotors. Don't know of any foundry in the US currently casting rotors.
Edit: I always use Disk Brake Quiet, so can't attest to silence without it.

 

Give it some break in time. I am a fan of Akebono, look forward to a review after a few weeks.

 

They are fully bedded now. As stated, bite is lower than OE. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not necessarily good either. I'm a firm believer that many companies (including OE) formulate brakes with too much bite just to fool the unknowing masses into thinking that they have more brake power. The new brakes feel good, but don't feel at all like what are marketed as high performance brakes.

We have discussion all the time in the motorcycle world. True race pads have lower bite than a street only pad (especially cold), but many put on a race pad and claim less brake power. It's during heavy use that ultimate brake power is learned. These feel plenty strong when you stand on it. I have no idea if the lower bite is due to pad or rotor composition, also don't really care as the combination feels great.

 

Lower bite on a race pad is due to the pad material being formulated to work at much higher temperatures. The pad needs to get hot to develop full bite.

Bite on non-race pads is due to using a more aggressive pad material, namely metals that are sintered (heated and compressed to form a bond), aka semi-metallic pads, Vs organic fibers bonded with a resin (organic, or resin pads brakes). You can also have variations on initial bite, sustained bite, and fade within any pad type.

Akebono Pro Act pads are low-dust ceramic street pads. Low-dust pads are low dusting for three reasons: The generated dust isn't carbon black, the dust isn't electrically attracted to painted surfaces or hot enough to bond to it, and the pads have a lower friction coefficient when used with rotors formulated for organic and semi-metallic pads.

Pro Act has less braking 'power' than oem semi-metallic. 'Performance' is the middle-range ceramic, no idea how they compare to oem, but more aggressive than 'Pro Act'. 'Fleet' is their most aggressive ceramic, and word is they eat rotors. Ceramic pads are hard on rotors not formulated for them, so 'Fleet' may not be more aggressive than oem semi-metallic, they may just eat rotors, no idea on which that is. I would expect them to be slightly more aggressive than the F150 semi-metallics as fleet pads are going to match what goes on the F250.