Disclosed is a spindle motor and a disk drive unit equipped with the same, having advantages of preventing hard collision between a disk and a signal conversion element due to lifting of rotating components, and avoiding the signal conversion element and swing means for positioning the signal conversion element from being damaged irreparably. Specifically, spindle motor 13 comprises rotor unit 5, stator 11, stator-side bearing member 6 in engagement with rotor-side bearing member 3 to form a shaft rotating type fluid bearing, and chassis 8. Rotor hub 2 has hollow cylinder portion 2a near central axis 1 of rotation, and cylindrical portion 7b of support column 7 secured to chassis 8 is positioned inside the hollow space of cylinder portion 2a without being in contact thereto. Cover 18 is placed with a bottom side of abutment portion 18b kept in abutment upon an upper end of cylindrical portion 7b of support column 7 with a predetermined small clearance provided between upper end 2c of rotor hub 2 and the bottom side of abutment portion 18b.