Step 7 · Install the Drain Shoe and Overflow

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

Begin by installing the drain shoe. Place its thick rubber gasket onto the top of the shoe and position it firmly against the underside of the tub's drain hole. From inside the tub, take a small amount of plumber's putty and roll it into a continuous rope, about 1/4-inch thick. Apply this rope to the underside of the new drain flange. Thread the flange into the drain shoe and tighten it down with a drain key until it is snug and the excess putty squeezes out. Next, install the overflow. Place the beveled rubber gasket over the overflow elbow, ensuring the tapered side faces the tub. Press the elbow against the back of the overflow opening and hold it there while you attach the new overflow plate from the front with its screws. Do not install the trip-lever linkage yet.