Greetings!

If it was replaced under warranty, I would think the washers would be there. I am wondering if it is really the disk drive itself, or maybe the cable or IDE header / dry solder joint.

Either way, type of audio would not be abusing the player at all. Perhaps if you mounted the empeg upside down or outside the angle that is recommended (and there is a bit of tolerance there as well), I could see that. But I doubt it is abuse on your part.

Do you have any wild temperature swings or ranges, and leave the player in your vehicle? Extreme heat or cold may change the life of the hard drive.