The shower drips throughout the day even though I turn the knobs completely off. I removed the handle and the packing nut to see if I could find a rubber washer to replace. That didn't work. I'm not sure what to do next but I think I should remove the entire piece. I believe it is called the valve stem but I'm not sure. Should I simply unscrew the brass colored bolt shown in the picture? There is enough space for me to get a wrench on it. Or, should I remove the silver knob that turns the water on or off? Please help!

Once you have the packing nut removed, put the handle back on and turn the stem toward the left (usually). Once it bottoms, it will begin to unscrew the valve stem.

There is actually two sets of threads:
1. The packing nut which compresses the seal against the shaft.

2. The valve step thread or the mechanism thread. As you turn clockwise it stops agaist the seat and as you turn left it stops against the packing nut.

The shower drips throughout the day even though I turn the knobs completely off. I removed the handle and the packing nut to see if I could find a rubber washer to replace. That didn't work. I'm not sure what to do next but I think I should remove the entire piece. I believe it is called the valve stem but I'm not sure. Should I simply unscrew the brass colored bolt shown in the picture? There is enough space for me to get a wrench on it. Or, should I remove the silver knob that turns the water on or off? Please help!

Thanks a lot for your quick response K.I.S.S. I am a complete novice at plumbing. I have no choice but to jump in and try to fix this myself. I will give it a try!

First thing to do is to turn the water off and open an out side faucet to drain the pipes.

Replace the nut that you have taken out, it is the packing nut and if you leave it out you risk egg shaping the threads where it screws into.

Now put the handle back on for just opening the valve so that the washer will not bind against the seat.

Now with the packing nut in place move your attention to the next hex shaped nut and with a wrench that fits snugly turn the housing counter clockwise, it should turn several turns before it comes out of the housing. Now you have exposed the rubber washer on the end of the stem. Change the washer with the same size washer that will fit snugly on the end of the stem.

Now use a flashlight and look into the hole where the stem was, you will see the seat, make sure it is very smooth, If any doubt take it out and replace it. I think on this faucet you will need a square wrench to fit into the seat, turn it counter clockwise and replace the seat with the identical kind of seat. Tighten securely, put the sten and housing back into the hole, still making sure that the faucet is still in the open position and tighten securely.

Now use the handle and turn the faucet off, and turn the outside faucet off, and turn the water supply back on, now use the handle to turn the faucet off and on several times making sure that no water leaks out of the packing nut, if it does tighten slightly until stem is easy to turn but now water is leaking out. Finish up by putting the escutcheon back in place and the handle on.

I hope this helps you if so let me know.