Any tricks for dealing with misaligned sink drains?

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ndog

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I'm doing a minor bathroom update, new paint and new sink/toilet/fixtures. But I've run into a problem installing the new sink. The abs p-trap comes too far out of the wall to line up with the drain tail. I've been reading the old threads and I see the flexible tail isn't a good idea I also can't modify the trap and plumbing since its all glued abs and part of the trap assembly is in the wall. I didn't do it like this but I'm stuck with it since the walls are tiled (and the tile is discontinued) plus there's no access from the other side. The offset isn't much about 1/2 an inch, so I'm wondering is there anything I can do about this?

I don't have a camera so here is a rough diagram to try and explain my situation better. The proper screw on drain tail connector is present on the drain glued to the top of the elbow. I realise the drain is a mess, but I didn't do it, and it does function correctly and water stays in the trap. I'm just trying to figure out a way I can work with this since taking out the wall would mean taking out the tiles on 3 other walls too. I can't move the sink forward since it's a ped and the top needs to attach to the wall. So I'm left with some not so great options and I don't have the experience here to make it work. drain1.jpg
 

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What is the distance from the top of the sink tailpiece to the ABS when you mock it up? Is it possible that you have enough room to create a small jog with two 45deg fittings? Or two 22.5s ??
 

ndog

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Thanks for the help!

The abs is 1.5" and the tail off the drain is 1.25" If I put a 1.5" x 1.25" trap adapter on the top of the trap the tail piece is over the side of the threads by just under 1/2 an inch. I've got a spare 22.5 deg fitting in my tool box I tried playing with that, I'm going to get another one tomorrow morning when the stores open up to be sure, but it seems like it pushes the threaded opening of the trap adapter too far away from the tail. It almost seems that since the distance is so small that I need something flexible but I'm not sure such a thing exists/is code compliant/is a good idea.
 

hj

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IF that drawing is accurate, and I hope it is NOT, then who was the "idiot" who installed the trap? That installation is completely incorrect and can cause immense difficulties in the future. It doesn't fit because it was never designed, or intended, to be installed that way.
 

ndog

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It is accurate, the only thing that's missing is there is a clean out plug on the bottom of the trap's u shaped piece. It was installed by a licensed plumber I guess about 10 years go.

It hasn't malfunctioned or clogged; if it was drywall or there was a place I could cut and glue outside the wall I'd replace it all but I'm pretty much stuck with it at this point.
 
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