Step 4 · Remove the Old Cartridge
Now you can see the valve cartridge. The Moen cartridge is held in place by a small U-shaped retaining clip inserted into the top of the valve body. Use needle-nose pliers or a small screwdriver to grab the top of the clip and pull it straight up and out. Keep this clip in a safe place. With the clip removed, the cartridge can be extracted. Often, they are very stuck. Your replacement Moen cartridge (like the 1222 or 1225 model) should come with a small plastic tool. Insert this tool over the cartridge stem and rotate it back and forth to break the cartridge free. Then, use a dedicated Moen cartridge puller tool. This metal tool screws onto the cartridge stem and uses leverage to pull the cartridge straight out of the valve body without damaging the housing. Pull firmly and steadily until the cartridge comes free.