Forum Discussion

bmwbob's avatar
bmwbob
Explorer
Mar 02, 2015

Shower drain replacement

I have a '99 DSDP. On our shower drain cover, the chrome on the ring surrounding the drain has corroded and looks ugly.
Since the drain is directly above the grey water tank, access from below does not appear practical.
Can this piece be removed and replaced from the top side?
If so, how is that done?
Thanks!
Bob
  • I had to replace mine due to it being cracked. But, my shower is piped into the grey tank and not directly over it. Directly below the shower floor on mine is a vent that can be removed and provides access to the trap beneath the shower drain. Reaching into that access hole, I easily unscrewed the shower drain and replaced it with all new equipment from PPL.

    http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-toilets-tanks/drain-trap-packs.htm
  • The chrome part is either screwed on with one screw in the middle or just held on by spring loaded tabs. If that's the case you should be able to pry it out with a screw driver. You don't have to replace the whole drain assembly.
  • Well, there's no screw in the middle, and I'm a bit hesitant to pry against the fiberglass shower pan.
    Think I'll look for that vent thing and see if I cn get a look at it from the bottom.
    Thanks!
    Bob
  • bmwbob wrote:
    Well, there's no screw in the middle, and I'm a bit hesitant to pry against the fiberglass shower pan.
    Think I'll look for that vent thing and see if I cn get a look at it from the bottom.
    Thanks!
    Bob


    Then I suggest you go to a Home Depot and look at one on the shelf. That way you can see how it's put together.
    Also, if you look around the edge you may see a couple of recessed or notched area's just big enough for a flat screwdriver to fit. (some have this and some don't).
  • Well, here's how the removal was accomplished.
    Since the drain in the shower is just like the one in most kitchen sinks, the top flange is bedded in a strip of caulk.
    Then, under the shower pan, there is a rubber gasket and a large metal flange which is pressed tightly against the bottom of the pan by a large PVC nut, which is threaded on the outside of the drain tube.
    So, in order to remove the drain assembly (of which the corroded top piece is a part) you must use a "basket wrench" to undo that PVC nut.
    Only trouble is that after being in there for 16 years, the nut, the rubber gasket and the metal flange were quite well bonded to one another.
    The greatest amount of effort I could put into the basket wrench just caused it to slip off the (VERY thin) nut.
    In the end, I used my Dremel tool with a heavy duty cut off wheel and split the PVC nut.
    The rest came out quite easily.
    Next time, I'm going to START with the Dremel!
    Bob
  • Wonder why a shower drain has a stopper ??, to soak your feet maybe while showering.
    We've been using the open shower drain as a tattle tail, like when the shower water starts backing up, DADDY, the gray tank is full, which about that time its raining like crazy.
    Neil
  • I found out that the shower drain in the RV is NOT a regular shower drain (of course!)
    Instead, it is a kitchen sink drain with a grate over it!
    I had to buy the sink drain with the removable stopper.
    If it actually fits, that will be OK.
    Bob