I'm trying to replace the valve stem of a 2-handle bathroom sink faucet. All the instructions I've found online say to unscrew the nut atop the valve stem.
But my nut, when it turns, also turns the entire assembly. I assume the stem has gotten stuck to its housing.
UPDATE: I ended up removing the entire valve assembly. Then I wire-brushed off lots of gunk to get a closer look at the parts. But I still can't remove the valve stem from the rest of the assembly. I'm starting to wonder whether it's supposed to be removable.
I don’t know the model number because the faucets were installed long before we moved into the house, but the markings on the outside of the valve assembly say this: "GROHE A 98 01 R 90". A Google search yielded nothing useful about replacement parts or service info, nor did Grohe's website.
Question for anyone with experience with Grohe faucets– are the valve stems removable? Know any tricks for unsticking a stuck stem?
I attached a new picture.
Here's the old picture from before I removed the valve assembly from the sink:
Best Answer
As Steven says, hit it with some penetrating oil first (WD-40 should work for this). Give it some gentle whacks against a piece of scrap wood in all directions to help break any bonds. Then clamp on to the bottom square part and try to torque the nut on top with a socket. If you still can't get it, you may find it easier to replace the entire thing.