A system and method for the production level screening of low flying
magnetic heads in the manufacture of disk drive head disk assemblies
(HDAs) is disclosed. A test disk is provided and has a plurality of bumps
extending from at least one surface thereof. The test disk is rotated to
fly a head of a head gimbal assembly selected from the group adjacent the
surface of the test disk. An interaction of the head with one or more of
the plurality of bumps may be sensed and the head gimbal assembly may be
screened out from the group in response to the sensing of the
interaction.