I need to remove a pastor shimano sti 5500 brake hoods.
I want to save them and clean them.

Would like to know from the many experts here, the best way to do.

I can just see the side I side piece where the cable goes could be more than a challenge


As always......appreciate your help and time

Carefully. A hairdryer is handy just to make the rubber a bit more compliant. I found getting them on was harder than getting them off. YMMV.

I accomplished this best by removing the shifter from the handlebar.
Little bit of soapy water solution and pull off.

I use a hair dryer to warm them up and then a squirt of lighter fluid from each end to make them slippery.
I also pull them off from the bar end.
BUT they are old, so no matter what you do they might split.

There are no replacement hoods available for Shimano 9s STI levers from pre-2004 or so.

I use a squirt of rubbing alcohol to remove hoods using a twisting action.

They are getting stretched when they are half-way off, so I try to be quick about it.

Twisting action gets them fully on after getting them started on the handlebar end, that's the tricky part.

I've only removed these after taking the shifter off the bars. Indoors warmth and soapy water help.

All great ideas!!!!!

Thank you.....I might just take the shifter off and clean.......
Or leave on and clean.
Believe it or not, I found a pair of replacement hoods !!!!!
Used of course. But they cleaned up nice with dawn dish detergent and warm water.
Just using my hands to clean.
did this for about 5 minutes. Rinsed and let dry.
I know getting hoods off and on are a PIA...!!!!
Sometimes if the hoods are completely shot, AND I have a new set to replace them with, I just cut them off.
Being these hoods are VERY RARE to get, I want to try to salvage them
I'll keep all posted
Meanwhile....keep all the ideas coming
Greatly appreciated!!!!

With the levers off of the bars a squirt of silicone spray under the hood will not only let them come right off but is actually good for them. Unlike the other crap that has been suggested.

JMO of course. Use whatever turns you on.

Worth noting that, with 9-speed of that era, it's easier to pull brake cables than derailleur cables.
At least in terms of reinstalling and adjusting. So detaching the levers method requires brake cable detachment.
Using silicone works for removal, but you want to completely dry it off the shifter body prior to installing the replacements.
Otherwise, the new hoods could squirm around too much.

Hoods are OFF !!!
Heated them up slightly with a heat light.

Then working from the bottom "peeled" them back.
Took about 1 -2 minutes each hood.

Soaking and washed with dawn dish soap using just my hands mainly......used a sponge for about 5 seconds.
they are in fair to good condition.

As long as they are not sticky.......fine with me.

After drying I'll check. Have the baby powder on hand just in case
Thanks again for all the help !!!
Much appreciated
Happy and Safe New Year to all!!!!

Indeed, but some of us are lucky enough to have NOS ones hanging around. Mine happen to be unopened in the original package. I should probably sell them, don't have any bikes with 9-speed STI's, only 8 and 10.