A breather filter is assembled within a disc drive by positioning the
filter atop a flex circuit bracket on a base plate of the drive. A
breather port is formed through a top cover of the disc drive, and an
inlet of the breather filter is sealed against the top cover of the
drive. Compressing the top cover against the top of the breather filter
helps to retain the filter in position between the flex circuit bracket
and the top cover without an adhesive connection to the top cover. The
connection of the breather filter to the flex circuit bracket allows a
top-down assembly of the disc drive so that an adhesive connection
between the filter and the top cover of the drive is not required.