All indications I have read say the OEM pads are ceramic. Where did you read they are semi-metallic?

 

what motorcycle world do you discuss "true" race pads?? There are a number of different pads available... all have different feel from "heavy initial" all the way to "less initial bite" for a better trail braking pad
Then there are riders that need different pads on each side in order to achieve their ideal feel.
All rotors & pads need a good bed period before ideal results are produced.

 

The pads I pulled off my 2015 several years back were semi-metallic and had the Ford oval marking and part number on the backing plate.

It's not unusual for a manufacturer to vary pads used in a single model to achieve differing, or to maintain performance specifications. Ex. A 3.5 Ti-VCT RCab with a 13,000 GCWR could use a low-dusting ceramic pad and have the same braking performance as a 16,000 GCWR SCrew, both while unladen and while at the GCWR limit.

I'm not saying they do, I'm just pointing out the fact that different configurations impact curb weight and GCWR, and the mfg may choose different pad materials while still meeting their design spec for braking performance.

 

The world in which it is discussed is the world of very high performance brakes with ultra low inertia wheels being run on a street bike. I run a true race pad on my Motus. The combination is a featherweight BST carbon fiber wheel, lightweight racing rotors designed for high bite cool (think turn 1, start of race), Brembo calipers, Brembo masters, and track day tires that don't appreciate running cold. This combo can be exceptionally sensitive to lockup when on a cool damp mountain road, especially when not riding aggressively. A race pad has notoriously poor bite when cool, so much so that they are labeled "race use only". This poor bite when cold can go a long way towards preventing unintended lockup. With seriously strong race brakes they come in very quickly under heavy braking. Has nothing to do with bed in, besides, a quality rotor and pad combo will fully bed in just a few miles of bedding process.

I mentioned race pad as an example of low bite not equaling low brake power, not to open a debate about race pads on a bike, or bed in process. The overwhelming norm around here is for someone to assume more brake power when they in fact only have higher initial bite. Ultimately brake power is a product how much heat the pad can take, fluid quality, and ability of the combination to shed heat. Unless one is testing to fade then one would have no idea if their new brake pads and rotors are more powerful.

 

How powerful your brakes are doesn't matter when you can lock up the tires with any pad/rotor combination. I think too many don't understand that the limit of the brakes on an F150 is it's fade point, not it's ability to slow the truck. Some of the cheap low-dusting pads might not lock up the front tires when running oversize tires, but I've yet to hear anyone say they have had that issue. Maybe someone can comment on that.