how hard is it to remove the whole armrest/console assembly...
I'd like to take it off, clean under it and kind of isulate all of the contact points to maybe stopSOME of the creaking.

Thank you!

 

it's pretty easy, assuming your car is like an '02. I think the only things holding it were screws at the bottom of the console. I think you need to remove the trim around the shifter, too. it's on by clips and should just pop off.