Timken Slide Bearings are made from a special formulation of PTFE  that is re-informed with a glass fiber aggregate. This provides a structural material that has significant compressive strength without cold flow, yet retains the low friction and chemically inert characteristics of unfilled PTFE.Slide bearings facilitate precise linear motion and accommodate structural expansion. The slide bearing assembly consists of structural pads, a PTFE sliding surface (or other low-friction material) and slide bearing plates. Subtypes of slide bearings include linear ball bearings and linear roller bearings.

The SLIDE BEARING as differentiated from bridge bearings, elastomeric bearings, and other typical expansion bearings, transmits a vertical load from a supported structure to the sub-structure while providing for controlled horizontal movement. In its basic form, as shown below, it is not utilized as vibration dampener.