Size: 3.5 inch A component used to hold a hard disk in place and reduce vibration during operation. Often made of rubber or other soft materials, these shock absorbing pads absorb the vibrations generated by the hard disk during reading and writing, thus protecting the hard disk from damage, prolonging its life, and reducing noise. Properly installed shock absorbing pads can effectively minimize shock and vibration to the hard drive, especially important for computer systems that are placed in unstable environments or moved frequently.