Same problem and yes, I too, opened it up for a look. There are a couple of plastic "towers" to which the rubber sanding pad attaches. Though fexible enough to transfer the vibration to the pad, they don't, apparently, last forever. Mine shook themselves off the base to which they were attached and the pad actually fell off after sounding like the train wreck it was. I don't know if just those plastic pieces can be purchased seperately, but mine obviously needs a new set.
WH Creek
December 2007