Replacing a cast iron shower drain in fiberglass base on slab without underneath access- help.......

[serialthri1a]

I am not a stranger to DIY residential plumbing but I am at a point where I am in a jam. The house I am in was built in 1980 and is on well and septic. The people before me did not do anything to maintain the house or treat the water. Everything was corroded and I have been working on replacing supply lines and drains over the past 5 years. There is a full bathroom on the slab and the shower stall drain is pretty gnarly. I am finding that it is cast iron and I would not have access underneath since it is on the slab. I can't remove it from the top because the drain pipe extends up past the drain body so I cant put the flat bar tool across to fit between the teeth of the compression coupling (assuming thats what it is). The below photos are where I started and where I am at. I would really prefer not to have to cut into the shower pan because it is a one piece alcove thing and I would need to rip the whole thing out. Knowing that I do not have access underneath and I would like to keep the existing shower pan...is there anything I can do? I bought the wingtite shower drain but because the drain pipe is iron i'm not sure it is going to work.

 

[Twowaxhack]

That’s not a good situation. I can’t tell what’s sealing the pipe to the drain.

I’m not going to say it’s impossible to accomplish your objective but I probably would suggest a complete replacement to a customer.

There’s a cast iron ptrap down there and from the looks of the pipe, it can’t be in good shape.

 

[TomFOhio]

That looks like an Oatey shower drain. If so you have to take it apart from underneath

 

[Geofd]

I have worked on some slabs before,the shower drain is accessable by opening a closet wall or the vanity in the master bath,I replaced a tub for a friend there was a galvanized waste
and overflow just laying in the dirt , I was able to use a no hub coupling to clamp onto the drum trap before it disappeared into the slab,
Another friend has an access panel in the closet to access the drain,finally another friend wanted a new vanity, in the master bath and that's how I found the tub drain in this slab

 

[Hamberg]

I'm with @Geofd, built in the 80's, the drain should have been boxed out with some sort of access from behind or the side. Here is the one I'm working on now (built in the 50's) access was through linen closet.

 

[Twowaxhack]

This is a shower, not a tub. I’m guessing the drain is in the center. Most showers sit too low to access from any side.

Aquaglass is one that I know sits up 3-4” off the slab and would be accessible.

 

[Hamberg]

This is a shower, not a tub. I’m guessing the drain is in the center. Most showers sit too low to access from any side.

Good call - wasn't thinking that through... Not looking good, short of ripping up the pan!?