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Had a chance to clean the rear / upper head and remembered to take before and after photos while the alien was off, below. Disks shed their debris mostly on one side of the head, and it can be tricky to remove entirely. A bit of elbow grease, 99% alcohol and a swab should do the job. If cleaning the rear / upper head, I would suggest steering clear of the lead screw lest you remove its lubricant. If you do, I understand Tri-Flow lubricant is recommended in Apple documentation.

The last image is an example of a clean drive head in the front / lower position. Should be a nice clear, white octagon.