I have this PP tub and shower valve, and about 16 months ago I bought a retro-fit kit from a local plumbing supply store. Thread in the new stems, seal the hole with silicon caulk, then thread in that white plastic tube, then the chrome sleeves, the handles, screws the handles in, the cap. Pretty straight forward.

Now, after 16 months or so, the sleeves are a bit loose and no longer tight against the wall, the handles wobbled a bit. I took them apart.

What I found is that the white plastic tube, this one:





When I thread the metal sleeve onto it, once the sleeve is against the wall, of I turn it a bit more to make it tighter, it slips off the threads and became loose again.



I took the plastic tube out and looked at the threads, they look OK...so basically, the plastic threads are too soft, as I make the turn the metal sleeves "jumps" to the previous thread.

Do they sell something better? Do these plastic white tube thingie come in metal? What do you call it?

they are called:

GARBAGE

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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

will a wrap or two of teflon tape make it better or worse?

Short of making extensive changes:

Suggestion from DIYSer.
Apply silicon to the back of the chrome sleeve (hollow part) where contact with the wall is made. This "may" hold sleeve in place. If this is your own living space you will know. You should be able to remove if/when required. If it is rental, hopefully you will be made aware if that does not work.

I have never seen that problem, but since that is NOT a Pfister OEM unit anything is possible. Either get Pfister nipples and flanges, or find a hardware store that has a proper size metal nipple. It will be 6" long and you cut it to length.

It's one of these "universal remodeling kit".



Although my handles are different. It was bought at a local plumbing supply store using the stems I extracted from the valve two years ago.

I went to another plumbing supply store and showed them the white plastic tube and they have replacement ones. $2 a piece. I asked them if they have OEM ones from PP and they said those are all there is available anymore. The ones they sold me looks more solid than the ones I have. I'll try them tomorrow, and I'll try the teflon tape suggestion from Packy too.

WC, I am sure silicon will help, but the flange bottom is not a flat surface, instead only the edge of the circle touches the tile, so if I use silicon I will have to fill that whole cone with it.

If I were there and had fixed the faucet, I would NOT have used those stems, handles, or flange/escutcheons.