How do I fix this faucet?

http://gallery.me.com/bill_vojtech#100005

The above link will bring up pictures I took of a faucet I'm trying to take apart to fix or replace.

The faucet went bad over time. At first it was a bit hard to open or close. Then it got tighter. Then it got so tight that the faucet body would move when you turned the handle. Finally it got so tight that you had to leave it open and use the shut-off valve under the sink to control the water flow.

I've about given up. I want to take the whole sink off the wall and bring it to the local building supply place so they can see what's going on, but my friend won't let me, (it's her sink).

I can't get the little button on top off to get the handle off– it neither pries off or screws off, as far as I can tell. I would use a bit more force If I KNEW if it was a pry off or screw off cap.

In trying to take it apart from the bottom, I find that the nut unscrews only so far, then there is a "T" that comes off the faucet body that stops it from coming off. It's one piece cast brass, so it didn't get put together that way.

It seems like the chrome body on top of the sink screws on to the threaded brass part that comes through the sink from below. There are no flat spots on the chrome body whee you could put a wrench. The brass part has the "T" below the sink and that could be gripped with a wrench.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

That cap will pry off use a utility knife to pry it off.remove handle,then
unscrew the bell shaped escutcheon and it is done.
You have to hold the under side of it.

faucet

BUT, once you get the bell shaped piece off the faucet, the ONLY THING you need to take to a good plumbing supply store is the stem, because that is the only thing we can use to identify the faucet. All the rest of it is immaterial.

Do I pry the white part out, ot does the chrome ring that encircles it come with it?

cap

Your pictures were taken too far away to tell for sure, but it appears that the white piece pulls out. BUT, if there is a groove under the chrome piece then it could come apart there.