My pedestal are exremly tough to get in and out, almost need a hammer to get em in and a pipe wrench to get them out.
Anybody else have this problem? Any options on some sort of oil, grease, or graphite to use? I'm hoping to find something that works but doesn't make a mess on my carpet.

You may have rust on the pin. Just use some sand paper to knock the rust off and a light oil...like WD-40.

Take them out and polish the pins, then get some silicon grease and usr just a little. Renew when needed.

Depending on what they are and how they are made. The rear one in my boat isn't coming out. I had to use a pipe wrench and bought a new one. It didn't work either. I was told the problem was the insert that is glassed in under the carpet. Many many bucks to replace it so the back one doesn't come out any more.

i had the same problem and used just a small amount of vasaline on the shafts. what a difference it made!