You need to remove the sub-platter to gain access to the bearing and that unfortunately requires a total tear down of the motor assembly from the under side of the plinth. This is not for the faint of heart and I wouldn't recommend it for the average consumer. It requires removal/assembly of a flex-cable that is very delicate; if it gets damaged, it will render the table inoperable, void the warranty and require factory service to correct. Disassembly of the table may also void the warranty; check with VPI regarding this. The bearing assembly is nearly identical to their other designs (Classic, Prime etc.) where they recommend annual lubrication. I always wondered what their policy was regarding the HW40 given the difficulty of accessing the bearing.

Try applying heat via a hair dryer or heat gun (not too hot though). Most adhesives weaken when heated above 120°F.

I don't know about the controller on those tables, but AFAIK they use the same motor.

The HW40 motor uses PWM at 10kHz which is most likely what you are hearing. I could hear this easily at start up and my hearing is not very good.