Greghennings

I've got a 2006 xlt that I wanted to replace the bushings in but I've run into a snag. The driver side isn't a round hinge, it's an oval peg just like the passenger side. And the driver side, tailgate side, has what looks like the standard round hinge, but there's an oval insert inside that that I can't get out. It also seems this oval insert is attached to the lift assist rod? I bought just the standard bushing kit but I don't think it's going to work. I need to fix these hinges because the drivers side is rusted and makes it hard to open. I thought if it would work, i don't need the lift assist rod, if I cut that off, and replaced the truck side of the hinge with the standard round hinge. I don't know what do you guys think?