I wish I knew also. Mine just fell apart and have to order a new pad for around 36.00 dollars.

I looked on link removed and there is a recall notice for the BO5000 and BO5001 pads. Models from 1992 - 2003. Take a look.

link removed - In The News

CPSC, Makita U.S.A. Inc. Announce Recall of Repair Electric Sanders
Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 714-3860, Ext.232
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Makita U.S.A. Inc., of La Mirada, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 350,000 electric orbit sanders. The pads on the sanders can break apart during use and strike the operator, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

Makita U.S.A. Inc. has received 13 reports of pads coming apart, including three minor injuries that resulted from pieces of the pad striking consumers.

The recalled sanders include the BO5000 and BO5001 model numbers, which can be found on the silver nameplate on the sander's body. The sander's housing is blue and the name "Makita" appears in large white letters on the motor housing. These sanders were manufactured in the United States.

Home centers, hardware stores, and industrial suppliers nationwide sold the sanders from April 1992 through February 2003 for between $110 and $125.

Consumers should stop using the recalled sanders immediately and return them to the nearest Makita factory service center for a free repair. For more information on how to return the sanders or to locate the nearest Makita factory service center, consumers should contact Makita at (800) 462-5482 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or log on to the company's website at link removed Industrial Power Tools - The Leader In Cordless with 18V LXT Lithium-Ion.

No other Makita sanders are involved in this recall. Any BO5000 or BO5001 sanders with the letters "PUR" on the pad are not involved in this recall. (To access the notice see CPSC's Web site at CPSC Home Page | cpsc.gov .)

Name of Product: Makita Electric Sanders
(Model BO5000 & BO5001)
Units: About 350,000 units
Distributor: Makita U.S.A. Inc., of La Mirada, Calif.
Hazard: The pads on the sanders can break apart during use and strike the operator.
Incident/Injuries: Makita has received 13 reports of the sanding pad coming apart. There have been 3 reports of minor injury.
Description: The recall involves Makita BO5000 and BO5001 Electric Sanders without the letters "PUR" on the pad.

I am guessing that the lower bearing you replaced was the pad bearing, item #12 on the parts diagram. Often times the symptoms you described can be caused by a bad bearing on the armature. Typically the lower armature bearing but I would inspect both the top and bottom bearings. I suspect that one or two new armature bearings will solve the problem.

Good luck with your repair!

-UtahAV
-Mark

Yeah, I'd like to know too!

I had the same problem with mine and was about to order new parts. I am not sure now that I've read your comments.

I had the same thing happen to my Makita. If I order a new pad, will it do it again? And how did you find out about the recall?

I am another user that was hit by flying pad pieces. If you let the sander run free, off the work piece the disk will hit high RPM and over time weaken the pad to the point of self destruction. Also pressing down on work at angles to dig in harder on work, weakens the disk by over flexing the pad. Too bad Makita did not add a speed governor to the disk but that would mean more cost and added failure points.
Still prefer this sander to anything else, other than my belt sander. I got rid of all my other sanders.

I just got my B05000 out to use, turned it on and the pad disintegrated also!