Not sure how to handle this. Looks like a steel pipe from the sink to the wall. The section between the p-trap and the wall has completely rusted out. It looks like it may unscrew from both ends??? Is this part replaceable or do I need to replace the whole drain? Any advice would be appreciated.

photo

 

Your photo shows the trap well but can't really see the problem area you are talking about. There is a nut on one end of the horizontal so you know that end can be unscrewed. I can't see what sort of buggery was done at the other end though.

 

It is the short section after the p-trap that connects to the wall that needs replacing. It looks like both ends can be unscrewed, just have no clue what to connect to it? I have never seen plumbing this old before, this looks like a custom pipe. Do they even sell pipe that thread into those fittings anymore?

It looks like it has leaked before and was siliconed at one time...

 

Close up photos of connections:

Wall connection

P-trap connection

 

I see two options:

1) Cut the drain pipe on the wall-side of the elbow, then try to unscrew it from the wall. It's hard to tell, but it looks like there's pipe dope sealing the threads of it. Then replace with a male PVC adapter screwed in, a 45 deg PVC, then convert to lightweight PVC slip trap and replace the whole trap assembly.

2) Cut the drain pipe in the same spot, use a Fernco rubber coupler to connect to a new PVC slip trap setup.

Really depends whether that pipe is easily unscrewed from the wall. Regardless, I'd replace all the metal trap pieces with new.

 

the part of pipe where the leak is is paper thin and I can crush it with my hand, I am worried if it try to unscrew the pipe from the wall I am going to break something inside the wall?? Is this a concern for me - or should I just put a wrench on it and try? I am guessing this pipe has been on for 60 years.

 

It looks like that section has a home made bend in it. You aren't going to find that anywhere. There are corrugated, flexible pipes though I hate them. They work but the corrugations are great a collecting debris so you may have to clean it out occasionally.

If it were mine I'd probably extend the rigid drain piping out and closer to the trap.
From the wall screw in a short pipe nipple. Then a 30 or 45 degree fitting. Then another pipe nipple and put a trap adapter on the end. You can use galvanized steel or PVC or a mixture of whatever you can find. Depending on how far out you extend the rigid pipework you may need to support the end if you use PVC. Just give it a wiggle and see if your satisfied with how sturdy it is and brace if needed.