I have a second floor shower drain that is leaking. I have cut a hole in the ceiling downstairs to expose the drain. I went to Home Depot and purchased a new drain primarily to get the no caulk tool to loosen the top ring. I cannot remove the existing brass drain as I cannot loosen the bottom locknut. The subfloor is opstructing the access for a wrench. I couldn't find a telescoping tool to get at it straight up and down. Since I cannot loosen the nut I have place a bead of silicone around the top. I would love to loosen down below as I only see the paper type washer below the basin and not the rubber. Any thoughts on a tool I can try with tight clearance. Also how tight is tight enough on the top ring? I have tightened it and the rubber gasket is puckered. Wondering if this is too tight.

How tight is tight enough on the top ring? I have tightened it and the rubber gasket is puckered. Wondering if this is too tight

You have a rubber gasket under the top lip of the drain? The drain installs like this.
The drain lip gets a small rope of plumbers putty or silicon jel under the lip which is pressed down on the base. Next, and under the base comes the rubber washer followed by the fiber friction washer and the big nut.
Is this how you're configured? Regards, Tom

The rubber gasket on the top I was speaking of is the one that tightens around the 2 in pipe. On the bottom it looks to me like the original install only had the paper washer on the under side. I was trying to get the locknut on the bottom loose so I could reinstall correctly. I couldn't get enough clearance to get a tool around to loosen the bottom locknut. I ended up putting silicon around the drain from the top and where I could around the bottom side. It seemed to stop the leak for now. My concern is I may have just temporarly fixed with silicon and may experience this problem again. Any advise? I just repatched the ceiling so I may just hold my breath.

Thanks

You have a rubber gasket INSIDE the drain? (see image) Let me know what's under the lip that you've caulked with silicon jel. Regards, Tom

There is a tool for no caulk shower drains at www.bulldogdraintool.com
I hope this helps others!