Abstract: A disk drive includes a linear actuator in which a single coil is mounted to the side of a carriage assembly and in association with a magnetic structure linearly moves the carriage assembly along upper and lower rails in positioning pickup heads on the surfaces of spinning disks. The carriage assembly includes a cantilevered roller support arm that is biased into engagement with the rails by a spring. The pick up heads are mounted on flexible arms attached to the carriage assembly, and the arms include cam members engage a non-magnetic stationary rod extending from the magnetic structure when the carriage assembly is moved to an extreme to travel thereby flexing the arms and lifting the heads from the surfaces of the disks.