KOHLER GP876851 Rite-Temp Pressure-Balancing Cartridge and Mixer Cap Kit, Compatible with KOHLER Shower Valves K-304 and K-11748 Platforms, SINGLE, Black

I can’t speak to the longevity, only the installation, which was great. I have no idea which model my old shower valve was, nor whether I really needed the pressure balancing unit or the mixing valve, so I replaced both with this kit. I just knew my old valve was Kohler and I couldn’t get very hot water from the tub spout, and the water temp was kind of bouncing around. The PBU on this kit looks a little different than my old one, with a slightly different shape and the new one has oval rear holes vs round. I did some research and found this was all normal and by design. Mine had a white threaded tube that goes on the outside of the valve (for the handle to screw onto). I had to search forums to learn that this snaps off with a little pressure from a flathead screwdriver from the bottom. Then it push-snaps onto the new valve. All in all, straightforward installation without any hitches. Works great, no problems. Consistent water temp, hot is back, and no leaks when off.

I bought this shower mixing valve to fix a frustrating “no cold water” issue in our shower, and it solved the problem immediately. It was a direct replacement for the existing valve, so I didn’t have to modify anything or make unexpected adjustments. That alone made the job much less stressful. Installation was straightforward and quick. Once installed, the temperature control was back to normal, and the shower works exactly as it should. No more guessing between scalding hot and barely warm — just smooth, reliable mixing again. I also appreciated the price. It was noticeably less expensive than what I found at the local big box stores, which made this an even better value. If you’re dealing with similar temperature issues and need a direct replacement, this part did exactly what I needed it to do. Very happy with the purchase!

Exactly matched my shower valve. Took all of 15 mins to replace. Couldn't have been easier. I refuse to pay the absolutely insian prices plumbers charge. They think they should make the same as lawyers. 99% of thr stuff they do is extreemly simple. Do not hire a plumber, they are rip off artists. Get some courage, take things apart and try it yourself. I got no leaks, great water flow and it was literally 4 Phillips head screws.

My cold water would run hot. I had 3 things in our home that potentially had cold-hot water mixers - the kitchen faucet, the shower and the clothes washer. I was able to test the clothes washer just by checking the water while it was filling and switching the temperature - it was fine. Also, I don't think the type of valve I had in the clothes washer was actually a mixer that could cause my cold water to run hot. I noticed that cold water in the shower (and the sink in the same bathroom) would run hot long before my kitchen faucet so figured it was my shower pressure balancing valve. I had a 25+ year old valve and it looked different from the new one, but thankfully the Kohler stuff seems pretty standardized so everything fit and worked well. I watched videos to figure out how to replace. It was a very easy DIY.

I have a couple of Kohler showers that are probably 50 years old. Both used the old-style brass spigot works. A few years ago, I replaced one with the new plastic version balancing unit and cartridge. Aside from the fact that the spigot handle now rotates less than 180 degrees (by design), the repair worked out fine. Time had come to repeat the repair on the other shower. This new kit includes the cartridge and mixer cap, plus a half dozen O rings for the cartridge. The cap portion uses three O rings which were already installed. Four of the loose rings were for installing the cartridge in different versions of the cup the cartridge fits into. Only two rings are used and must be inserted in oval indents in the end of the cartridge. The instructions do not make this clear, so refer to the many videos on Amazon and Youtube concerning this repair before you start. Getting the old cartridge out has always been a hassle. I had to pull the old one out by rocking it with locking pliers until it came free. I cleaned the inside of the cup with Scotch-Brite and 1000 grit sand paper and then coated the inside of the cup with silicone lube (get a separate tube or jar, as the included lube is about the size of a cold pill). The parts went together with no problem. The uncertain part of the operation has always been which side of the plumbing supplies hot water. Apparently, it is usually the right side. If you run hot water through the shower spigot for a few minutes before dismantling the fixture, you can feel which is hot. Label it so you know the next time. With any luck, the repair will last longer than your memory.

Quick delivery (overnight) and with great instructions for installation. Saved me a plumber bill for what was really a pretty simple project. A+

I bought the shower control based on my next door neighbors recommendation and he was right, it works great.

The parts I received weren’t even genuine Kohler parts although it’s supposed to be. As a result, water was still leaking even after installation.

Great quality product, fits perfectly

This item works perfectly.

Parts fit perfectly and were easy to install. Only needed pliers and a Phillips Screwdriver

Installed only the handle portion of the valve, as I was not able to remove the back portion. It fixed the leaking issue, and the temperature mixer works better than my old valve. If compared with other brands it is a complex valve and also expensive as other brands have life warranty for their valves.

The hardest part about installing this is figuring out if this is the correct part for your shower tap or not. Super easy to install. Lots of videos online on how to do. Didn't end up using some of the included parts like the large washers and metal plate. Had a bit of trouble figuring out how to remove the plastic threaded sleeve from my old mixing cap, just needed a good tug. Genuine kohler parts so no worries about fit and quality.