CANTON, Ohio – Oct. 21, 2008 – The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR) is launching a new series of heavy-duty hub rebuild kits to help simplify wheel-end rebuilds for heavy truck maintenance professionals while improving uptime for fleet owners and operators.

Timken® Set-Right Heavy-Duty Hub Rebuild Kits are engineered exclusively for pre-adjusted wheel hubs and feature two Timken® Milemate® sets – the original matched wheel bearing sets produced in North America – and a precision original equipment spacer. 

“The Milemate bearings used in these kits are what we call half-stand bearings, which means they have half the stand or measurement tolerance of that used in standard bearings,” said J. Barry Harris, global manager of products and marketing for the automotive aftermarket.  “This precise half-stand tolerancing provides for a highly accurate and repeatable setting, which facilitates faster and more reliable wheel-end rebuilds.”

The Milemate bearings are also Timken “NP” part numbers, which feature a proprietary design, enhanced surface finishes and more precise internal bearing geometry compared to standard bearings.  NP part numbers also exceed industry standards and ensure that fleets get all the advantages that were engineered into their original heavy-duty, pre-adjusted hub systems.

In addition, Timken Set-Right kits include a precision-machined cone spacer that is specifically designed for the rigorous demands of the heavy truck market. These cone spacers are made with high-strength alloy steel and manufactured to precise tolerances.  When combined with Timken half-stand bearings and a special toleranced hub, the cone spacer eliminates the need for manual adjustment, which is one of the leading causes of wheel-end problems.

For more information about Timken heavy-duty hub rebuild kits or other automotive aftermarket products, please visit www.timken.com/automotive.

About The Timken Company  

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR, www.timken.com) keeps the world turning, with innovative friction management and power transmission products and services, enabling our customers to perform faster and more efficiently. With sales of $5.2 billion in 2007, operations in 27 countries and approximately 25,000 employees, Timken is Where You Turn™ for better performance.

Source: The Timken Company

Media Contact: Elaine Laps
Senior Communications Consultant - Media Relations
Telephone: 330-471-5806
Facsimile: 330-471-2509

elaine.laps@timken.com

Investor Contact: Steve Tschiegg
Director - Capital Markets & Investor Relations
Telephone: 330-471-7446
Facsimile: 330-471-2797
steve.tschiegg@timken.com

For Additional Information:
www.timken.com/media

www.timken.com/investors