nasty armrests

The fold-down leather armrests on my front bucket seats ('96 454 burb) are getting funky. Seats are in great shape otherwise. does anyone know: 1) whether/how the armrests can be removed without tearing open the seams of the leather covering?; and, 2) if they can be removed without having to re-upholster, then can they be "reversed", that is, turn the driver's side over and attach to the passenger seat and vice versa (get the un-funky side facing up)?

I've considered having slip-on covers for these armrests, possibly made of wetsuit material, fabricated by an upholsterer and selling on ebay. anyone think this might be a popular item?

Check on eBay. I see some one is selling an armrest. I know that the armrest come off with out cutting any seams. They sell OME leather and cloth seat covers, backs and bottoms and armrests on eBay all the time. If you look on eBay you will see that the replacement covers all just unclip and replaced. The GMC dealer replaced my bottom and it took about 2 hours with out sewing anything. Dave