headliner removal

[rubing]

I am trying to take out my headliner and clean out the area underneath b/c of some rust from poorly draining sunroof. I have the headliner pulled back a bit and see that it is attatched to some black tubes (ribs) that run accross the roof of the car. I am struggling with getting these ribs out...they don't seem to budge and can't figure out for the life of me how to get them out. there is a little nylon type fastener at the end of the rib. I deformed it a little bit while trying to pull it out. pic attached.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Ihyo-ED35Jd1FuSUpYWlgwNWJBU2FFaHpfWWlBenhncE5j/view?usp=sharing

 

[vraned]

The rod pulls right out of the nylon bushing. However, the bushings are tight and the rod ends have a bend in them that makes it a little counter intuitive on which way to pull. You can see the bend in this photo. The nylon bushings are easily damaged and were not available when I did my car.