Shock dampening system for hard disk drive carrier

A carrier for a hot-pluggable hard disk drive has a frame with a pair of side walls, a front end, and a rear end. The hard disk drive mounts to the frame within its confines. A connector is provided for electrically coupling the hard disk drive to a computer system. A channel is formed in one side wall and a guide surface is formed on the other side wall of the frame. Each side wall has a recess at the front ends of the channel and guide surface. The recesses house shock dampening yokes. Each yoke is a C-shaped member with a hub and a pair of fingers. The carrier mounts in a computer system having a docking bay. Each side of the bay has a guide rib and a docking connector is mounted at the rear. As the carrier is inserted into the bay, the ribs simultaneously engage the channel and the guide surface in the side walls and are directed into the yokes. The yokes allow some compliant motion and deflect to a preload position against the ribs upon contact.