just to follow up, i did manage to get mine out. i drilled the "rivet"/"fastener" out, there's one on each side of each spreader, a little larger and deeper then before. then i put a big drywall tee square in the end and shook it up and down, knocking the end of the tee square into the tip. after a few heavy blows it finally dropped out. turns out along with the "fastners" that were hold the tips in, there was also ALOT of aluminum corrosion white chalky stuff in between the spreader and the tip. probably acted as some kind of friction glue. but they're out now.