Overview

On the CTS-V Cadillac I decided to change the armrest design from the stock CTS design.  Turns out the design was for the worse.  The CTS-V armrest is too low and doesn't have a storage container.  Here is a picture of the CTS-V with stock armrest and a couple of pictures comparing the stock armrest with the CTS armrest.

What You Need

CTS Armrest.  You can buy this at your local dealership or from GMPartsDirect.com  I bought a black console which is part number 25759213

You'll also need some basic tools, I used 2 small straight blade screwdrivers and a metric 5 allen wrench.

The Installation

1) First slide the front seats all the way forward.

2) Remove the caps on the sides, the CTS-V service manual says you should insert a screw driver at the 6 o'clock position and push to pop the cap off.  I found it was easiest to just pry the cap off with a screw driver, it's just held on with pressure fitting (white plastic below).

3) Now pop the leather cover off the armrest.  It's pressure fit also so just pull it off.

4) Remove the 2 bolts holding the armrest in place.  It looks like the bolts are really hex head, but I used a 5 Allen wrench to remove them.

5) Now you can just pull the armrest out.  Be sure not to loose the spacers.  Take them off the CTS-V armrest and put them on the CTS armrest.

6) Put the CTS armrest in the cradle and put the 2 bolts back in.

7) Snap the covers back on and that's it.

Installed Pictures