Slightly different hard drive mounting question

Tygur · 04-26-2002, 05:46 PM

I know there are already lots of threads out there that cover just about everything you need to know about hard drive mounting: vertical vs horizontal, various forms of suspension, etc.

But I haven't seen too much talk about no suspension at all. Just putting the hard drive in securely with no thought whatsoever about potholes and bumps. My question is simple. Has anyone done it, and did it bust anyone's hard drive?

If there are already lots of threads about this, then I've been using the wrong search terms.

I tried doing this with my hard drive and took it out for a bumpy ride, and it seemed ok. But that was only one ride. Am I supposed to expect problems later?

Aaron Cake · 04-26-2002, 06:33 PM

My HD is solidly mounted to the case, which is then solidly mounted to the car. I have had no problems with this. I did have problems with my HDs when I had them suspended though.

Personally, I recommend hard mounting everything.

MP3DUB · 04-26-2002, 07:57 PM

Mine's been screwed into my case now for about 6 months with out incident. My case, how ever, is attached with bungees.

magnetik · 04-27-2002, 05:43 AM

my hdd is in a removable HDD bay, inside my case.... mounted on its end. no shock systems here - over 2 years of in car use, and still going strong

and still not a lost cluster, let alone a bad sector to this day! I think shock systems are a little overrated.....

vickumar · 04-27-2002, 10:45 AM

My HD is screwed into my casing with rubber bushings....

Speed bumps and swaying doesnt bother the HD. However there are very minute vibrations in the car (from the engine, etc) that do the most damage. The rubber bushings go a LONG way to reducing these kinds of vibrations.

Vicious potholes can also be a problem, but this is unavoidable. Cross your fingers and hope you purchased a durable HD.

If your trying to do a suspension of the hd, please avoid the use of elastic bands. They are just too springy, and will bounce your HD around, which is worse. Instead use something like rubber from an bicycle inner tube (or any rigid rubber for that matter). They allow some stretching, but dont go as far as bouncing. It must be as taut as possible.

ViC

Rob Withey · 04-27-2002, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vickumar
My HD is screwed into my casing with rubber bushings....

Same here. More than two years of service like that and my hard drive is still alive and kicking (and never given me any trouble).

My drive is mounted horizontally too, which some people here would probably say is a bad thing.

Rob

littlej · 04-27-2002, 11:44 AM

I used an old CD-changer chassis to mount mine. The suspension in there is pretty nice. But I haven't had enough usage time yet to know if it's going to give me problems.

vickumar · 04-27-2002, 12:12 PM

Good idea!

So you can either shock-resist the HD mount... or add a vibration resistant case mount...

LittleJ: where abouts are you in Canada? Im in Vancouver,BC.

big al · 04-27-2002, 04:21 PM

My HDs are mounted on their side, solidly in the case. I go four-wheeling about once a week. Not a problem yet, and they've been in there for over a year.

LESLIEx317537 · 04-27-2002, 04:58 PM

My HD is mounted on top of my Keypower supply inbetween the rear seat where on Honda VTEC Preludes they had a OEM sub.
No suspension, mounted vertically and not one problem.
For a while I had it lying on the floor of the trunk with no problems either.

littlej · 04-28-2002, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vickumar
LittleJ: where abouts are you in Canada? Im in Vancouver,BC.

I'm live'n in the GAP... Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Right in the middle of the technology void in Canada. ;-)

The CD changer idea was actually a friend of mine's. I can't take all the credit for it. But it seems to be doing the trick so far. I'm in the process of rebuilding a lot of my stuff. I'll post new pictures soon.

jshrieve · 05-05-2002, 02:52 PM

My laptop hard drive is mounted horizontally (my preferred way) in its case. No special suspension. The computer itself sits on the carpet in the trunk. Under the carpet where the computer sits, is abut 0.4" inches of padding. Nothing fancy. Not springy, firm but soft. I actually put it in there just to even out the floor, as the trunk floor isn't exactly flat.

I haven't had any HD problems after a year.