Thomas,
I have a different theory. Maybe the bearings on the tonearm are sticking and causing the Stylus to drag the arm w. excessive force. I would check the arm w. a cheap MM high compliance cartridge and look for the stylus deviation as Nsgarch has mentioned. You never know. Sticking bearings could mess up many a cartridge. Never thought about that but who knows. If it is a unipivot who knows. A linear tracker might be clogged and then the stylus is dragging the arm w. too much force.
I have a different theory. Maybe the bearings on the tonearm are sticking and causing the Stylus to drag the arm w. excessive force. I would check the arm w. a cheap MM high compliance cartridge and look for the stylus deviation as Nsgarch has mentioned. You never know. Sticking bearings could mess up many a cartridge. Never thought about that but who knows. If it is a unipivot who knows. A linear tracker might be clogged and then the stylus is dragging the arm w. too much force.