Here am I, updating my situation.
BOTH AGeek and LCountry contacted me regarding my issue and offering a replacement.
Of course, I could only accept one offer, and kindly refuse the other.
My sister was in US last week so I decided to get replacement at AG, she was able to bring it to me together with one product I still have a full bottle but liked so much that will never have enough of it.
I've took replacement with her today:
Although I had an issue only with smaller 4" plate, AG was careful enough to send a full replacement set.
After opening the package, I could plentiful understand what caused my plate failure.
Looks like I knew it, but though it was normal until the plate actually broke on me.
On your LEFT, the old broken one. The other is the replacement I've received.
If you notice carefully, you'll see that my (which I will call now) defective 4" plate had a 'raised part' around the screw hole (hope this is not a bad word in english!).
Take a closer look (took of the broken part and put it side-by-side with the new plate):
The new one is completely FLAT. Although I already knew my old plate had a raised back, I thought it was 'normal'... also, the raised part would not align with the plate base, so you can also notice 'irregular stress' on it's back.
Mounted side by side, to show another issue I thought was 'normal':
On your LEFT, is the NEW set. On your right, the OLD set.
Not sure if that's easy to see from the picture, the OLD set had a small 'jiggle' (I've noticed it since first use), but being just little, like I've said, I thought it was normal.
The new one, mounted, has NO jiggle.
I'm convinced the raised part on the back of the defective plate was responsible to accumulate irregular stress over it's 'neck' which caused in long (not so long) term the failure of material.
That said,
I would like to thank both AG (specially Nick, Kendra and Mike Phillips who talked directly to me regarding this issue / helped replacement be combined with order and sent it fast for my sister bring it to me) and LC, specially David@LC who kindly contacted me many times regarding my problem.
I believe the new plate will not present the same issue like the old one, being it different from what I got.
I would like to let this pictures for who has this kind of 'defect' on their backing plates so you may be careful with it.
Mine broke on the 'right time', if I can say that. I've compounded and polished with this plate many cars before it broke, also in dangerous positions like up a stand for high roofs exerting pressure, laid on the ground polishing lower parts, etc,
But fortunately (again, if I can say that), mine broke on a vertical and flat panel, without pressure, while I was applying a finishing polish, so the plate just popped, no damage was caused to me, neither to the car or to the polisher.
Luckily nothing bad happened,
Luckily we can count on this kind hearted people at AG and LC.
Thank you very much for supporting me with this problem,
Also, count on me as well.
Kind Regards.
Rafael.
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