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going to a reputable re-builder has been the best thing. the parts stores remanufactured stuff is junk.
ive had awesome luck with salvage starters. i had a yard near me once that you could buy one for 30 bucks and they backed it for a year. so you get a good original AND a warranty. pretty awesome.
Some starters have the brushes directly soldered to the windings. Cut off the old ones to leave a long length. The cut off the screw eye ends on the new brushes and safety wire them to the old leads. Cut off any excess. Wrap them with good electrical tape or, if ya plan ahead, use some heat shrink.
As my architecture professor once said, "Make every piece a work of art". I rebuilt mine and treated it to a make-over with new paint and insulating paper (carpet tape!) and it looks factory fresh.