[Jack Gifford]

Well, this sure ain't car-related.
Cheapskate that I am (and not fond of doing plumbing under vanities), I've never changed my bathroom faucets to washerless type, which has meant fairly frequent replacement of faucet washers. During the most recent replacement, I got to thinking about why they fail (after 32 years in this house... duh...). I concluded that there's a fundamental design flaw- nothing prevents ham-fisted-Harry from cranking them down HARD and damaging the washer- and then the next person has to crank even harder to stop the drip, etc. So I did some measuring and came up with precision shims (actually just carefully selected steel washers) that provide a positive travel-stop just a whisker beyond where they totally shut off the flow. That was about two months ago, and still not a drop from them- I think I'm onto something!

[mechanickeith]

Better get a Patent for that!!!!

[PITTSBURGH 64]

I just replaced the ceramic faucet stems for my American Standard bathroom faucet.
35 bucks!!!
Keep the washers...............................

[Deadhead]

Take a flashlight, look down in where the washer/stem thread in & check the seats. Could be that they are all pitted up or corroded. This will make you go through washers like crazy. You can replace them really cheap. You need a seat wrench to get them out. Not too expensive either. A BIG allen type wrench with square instead of hex end on it. Wrap it sharply with stout metal instrument to loosen seat, take to real plumbing supply store to find correct one & replace.

[zbuickman]

Originally Posted by Deadhead

Take a flashlight, look down in where the washer/stem thread in & check the seats. Could be that they are all pitted up or corroded. This will make you go through washers like crazy. You can replace them really cheap. You need a seat wrench to get them out. Not too expensive either. A BIG allen type wrench with square instead of hex end on it. Wrap it sharply with stout metal instrument to loosen seat, take to real plumbing supply store to find correct one & replace.

Serious ????? does this apply to antique faucets as well. how about the lead ball supply tubes is there a replacement for those as well???

[Jack Gifford]

I've put new seats into my faucets probably about a dozen times in the last 32 years. The last few times I used non-metallic seats (nylon?) which don't corrode. Washer life was only slightly better with these seats.
What I have yet to do (mainly out of curiosity), is to look at whether "better" faucet sets (washer-type) actually did incorporate a positive travel stop that mine didn't.

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by zbuickman

Serious ????? does this apply to antique faucets as well. how about the lead ball supply tubes is there a replacement for those as well???

Yep. Old faucets have seats. Most were brass. I have not seen the nylon replacements but have seen nickel plated. Been a few years since I have had to do this. I don't know if it does any good or not, but I grease all the threads with petroleum jelly when I replace anything in these old faucets in the hopes of making it easier next time. Seems to work.

You wont find this stuff at Lowe's & Home Depot though. You have to go to actual plumbing supply places or old hardware stores with people who know something. I know this might not seem possible depending on your location, but it saves a ton. Find the supply house first, & then take the seats with you to make sure of a match. Danco is one manufacturer that makes a bunch of replacement seats & stems. If washers were ever allowed to go too far or cranked down as described above seats are often scored or damaged.

[cuz68]

Jack i think you are on to something also.