Recabling MDR-XB500's || total noob needs advice

Hey there:
first post...

A while back I really did a number on the cabling of my Sony XB500
I was getting down from a ledge, when my knee caught the cable and literally snapped it in two at the Y-junction.

I learned how to use a soldering iron a few weeks ago, and in addition, have won a pair of male 3.5mm plugs.
(http://www.overclock.net/t/1168717/given-away-2-neutrik-3-5mm-nickel-stereo-plugs/0_20)

I've read over the first post in "How to Make an Interconnect" and was also able to find out that Graphicism may have recabled his set of XB's, as well (I've pm'd him), but I still have a few questions.

- I only have to take R-/R+ to the right driver and L-/L+ to the left driver for this to work, right?
(I ask this because with the way the XB's are wired(I cut the wires open, theyre trash anyway), it seems to take all four wires to both drivers)

- I need help opening the thing.
there are four screws underneath each pad that seem to hold each driver housing together. I believe that removing them will give me access to the backs of the drivers, although I dont actually have the ability to check that right now, because I dont have a small enough phillips head.
can someone confirm this?

- I'd like to avoid Y-junctions and just go with a single cable.
I should be able to just wire up to the right driver and just go up and over the headband, right?

- Also, If anybody is aware of a way to convert this to a fixed-legth+bungee style head-band cleanly and easily, please do inform me.
It would prevent the left ear cable from bending (due to reajusting the headband). The stock headband kind of sucks, structurally, anyway, but it is removable(via 2 screws on each side).

- I'm thinking about wiring and gluing a female 3.5mm to the side of the right housing. That would allow me to use and replace the audio cable with 3.5mm auxiliaries of different lengths.
good idea / bad idea?

- Sleeving or Heat-Shrink?

If anyone could list/recommend the best, most cost effective remaining components for the job, I'd really appreciate any help.
must go find a screw-driver...

found a flat head that sort of fits.

have taken off the pads and the headband, but the driver housing is really screwed together!
i think they've used a very copius amount of loc-tite :l

bump.