A method for monitoring the operability of a slider of a disk drive
includes the steps of providing a slider that includes a read/write head
that magnetically interacts with a storage disk, and a slider mover that
adjusts a head-to-disk spacing, controlling an electrical stimulus to the
slider mover with a drive circuitry, measuring an actual electrical
response from the slider mover with the drive circuitry, and comparing
the actual electrical response to an expected electrical response to
determine an operability status of the slider mover. Further, changes in
the actual electrical response can be monitored and used to predict
future failure of the slider mover.