An apparatus for detaching a head slider bonded onto a mounting plate of a suspension includes a platform on which a head gimbal assembly is mounted; a heating device for heating a joint section between the head slider and the suspension to decrease the bonding force; a latching part for latching the mounting plate at a position on a center line of the mounting plate in the lengthwise direction and/or at positions symmetric about the center line; and a clamp device for moving the head slider in a direction along the center line with the heating to detach the head slider from the mounting plate.