the two sides of the finger seals for pressure balancing as the fluid passes through the finger seals the pressure decreases therefore the pressure hydrodynamic lift applied to each finger foot is different than the other hence each finger is designed with the required length to provide enough surface area for the lift force to lift the finger from the bore or shaft surface at the design pressure fig1 shows a similar arrangement to that of fig1 with the under spring structure substantially reversed in that a single brace 62 u2032 extends between the main structure and the beam springs 52 u2032 adjacent each pad 24 u2032 and a plurality of braces 62 u2032 extends between the beam springs 52 u2032 and each pad 24 u2032 on the ends thereof the embodiment shown in fig1 also utilizes gaps 50 b u2032 which do not extend through the entire pad 24 u2032 but rather function as a living hinge type structure to maintain relative position therebetween in operation there is a net axial force that acts on the pads 24 due to differential pressure the hydrodynamic force should also overcome this axial sliding friction between pads 24 and backup plates 38 in order to allow the pads 24 to comply to the bore 30 if there is changing eccentricity of the bore 30 with respect to the seal 26 to minimize this axial frictional force the l shaped lip 44 is designed to be as thin.