I have been trying to remove a leaky shower arm, and I keep twisting and twisting to no avail. I finally pulled up the metal piece around the arm to reveal what looks like a washer (I don't know what to call it really). How in the world do I get this arm off?

Attachment 47514

Try using a utility knife to gently cut all around behind the washer. LOOKS like plastic, or rubber(?) They probably glued it to the wall. Then,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmeelFQW6Hs

And JUST in case,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0a6OkSj5IQ

Yep it's some kind of plastic. I've loosened it with a bad like you recommended. The arm moves counter clockwise, but the plastic only moves clockwise. So it seems like it's holding the arm in from coming out. The trouble is I'm having difficulty gripping the plastic to keep it stationary while I unscrew the arm. Any suggestions?

That black plastic or rubber thing is some kind of unnecessary seal. It should turn with the shower arm.

Put a pipe wrench on the shower arm (it is already ruined) and turn it counter clockwise, let the plastic thing turn with the shower arm. What you are doing is unscrewing the shower arm from the drop ell.

The black plastic thing is unnecessary, if you get water that high on the shower wall you have bigger problems, throw it in the trash.

Don't worry about the washer, as the videos show, the arm isn't screwed to it, unscrew the arm, remove, then finish removing the plastic thing and discard.

Once the arm is removed you will see it better.

Ok, thank you! I will try again tomorrow, and hopefully I can get the arm to finish unscrewing!