Ball joint removal/install on 2018 ram 4500/5500 diesel.
, by iFJF Direct, 9 min reading time
The ball joints on a 2018 Ram 4500 or 5500 are no joke. They are big, they are stout, and because they sit at an angle inside the knuckle, they fight you the whole way out and back in. If you have eve...
The ball joints on a 2018 Ram 4500 or 5500 are no joke. They are big, they are stout, and because they sit at an angle inside the knuckle, they fight you the whole way out and back in. If you have ever bolted a standard ball joint press onto one of these trucks and watched the cup walk off to the side, you already know the pain. This guide pulls together the exact tools, part numbers, and shop-floor tricks that finally got a set of these angled joints moving — straight and clean — without chewing up the knuckle.
What you will learn: which ball joint press kit actually fits a Ram 4500/5500, the small angled adapter piece that squares up the force, the OTC tube that slips over the joint, and a couple of cheap custom fixes (a cut washer and a shortened press screw) that turn a frustrating job into a doable one. This is written for diesel owners, fleet mechanics, and weekend wrenchers working on the HD Ram chassis. It is adapted from a real technician walkthrough, so every part number below is one he actually ordered and used.
Why the 2018 Ram 4500/5500 Ball Joints Are Different
On most half-ton and light-duty trucks a ball joint press lines up square and you crank the joint out in a few minutes. The 4500/5500 is not most trucks. The joints are larger and they are set at an angle in the steering knuckle. That angle means a straight press cup can't get a true pull or push — the force lands crooked and the cup binds or walks. The tech in the source walkthrough said he had a heck of a time getting them out and back in, and that he could not find much useful info online. The fix is not a bigger hammer; it is the right combination of adapter, tube, and a couple of homemade spacers.
Tools & Parts You'll Need
| Item | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Ball joint press kit (Snap-On BJP1-RAM1 or equivalent) | The base press that drives the joint out and back in. |
| Angled adapter piece (Snap-On BJ P1-38A) | Drops into the groove on the joint and squares the push against the angle. |
| Receiver tube (OTC 22237) | Fits perfectly over the ball joint so the press cup bears evenly. |
| 1/2 inch washer, custom cut from plate steel | Spacer that rides over the OTC tube and lets you push square. |
| Small ball joint press (hardware/parts store) | A compact press works if you add the right tube and adapter. |
| Angle grinder or cut-off wheel | To shorten and flatten the press screw so a socket can drive it. |
| Socket and breaker bar / impact | To turn the modified press screw squarely in the tight knuckle. |
| Safety glasses and gloves | Metal chips from grinding and spring load from the press. |
Step-by-Step: Getting the Angled Ball Joints Out and In
Step 1 — Get the Right Ball Joint Press Kit
Start with a proper ball joint remover/installer kit. In the walkthrough the tech used a Snap-On ball joint remover installer. The Ram-specific part number that came up was BJP1-RAM1. A standard kit can sometimes work, but the Ram HD knuckle angle is what makes a generic setup bind. If you already own a small press from the local hardware or parts store, you can still make it work — you will just need to source the correct tube and adapter separately (see the next steps).
Step 2 — Use the Angled Adapter Piece (BJ P1-38A)
This is the part that makes the job possible. The adapter is a small angled piece that sits down in a groove on the ball joint and corrects the angle so your push or pull comes in straight. The specific part number spotted on the piece was BJ P1-38A. In the walkthrough it helped tremendously to push the joints out. Without it, the press cup rides up the angle and stalls. If you can order just that piece, do it — you may not need the whole kit.
Step 3 — Fit the Right Tube (OTC 22237)
The press needs a tube that slips over the ball joint so the cup pushes on the joint instead of the knuckle. The tube that fit perfectly in the walkthrough was an OTC 22237. If your press kit is a small hardware-store unit, it likely does not include the right diameter tube — order the OTC 22237 on its own. It drops right over the joint and gives the cup a true seat.
Step 4 — Build a Half-Inch Washer Spacer
To push on the OTC tube squarely, the tech quickly cut a half-inch washer out of a piece of plate steel. The washer rides over the tube and gives the press cup a flat, centered surface to bear against. You do not need a fancy part here — a half-inch washer cut to size does the job and protects the tube and threads while you crank.
Step 5 — Shorten and Modify the Press Screw
The stock press screw on a small kit is too long to get a straight shot in the tight Ram knuckle. The tech had to cut the screw down, then grind a flat on it so he could drop a socket onto it and drive it squarely. With the long screw in place, a straight push or pull is impossible — it just will not line up. Cut it shorter, round or flat-grind the end for a socket, and the press finally seats true.
Step 6 — Press the Joints Out and Back In
With the adapter in the groove, the OTC 22237 tube over the joint, the washer spacer in place, and the shortened screw driven by a socket, you can now press the old joint out and the new one in along a true centerline. Keep the press cup centered and watch the cup so it does not walk. [Verify: always confirm the factory torque spec and reassembly sequence for your exact 2018 Ram 4500/5500 configuration from the service manual before final assembly.]
Pro Tips From the Shop Floor
| Tip | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Use the BJ P1-38A angled adapter, don't skip it. | The joint sits at an angle, so a square cup can't get true force. The adapter squares the push and stops the cup from binding. |
| Buy the OTC 22237 tube separately if your kit is small. | A hardware-store press rarely includes the right diameter tube. The OTC tube seats perfectly over the joint so the cup bears evenly. |
| Cut a half-inch washer spacer from plate steel. | It lets you push on the tube square and shields the tube and threads from the cup during the press. |
| Shorten and grind a flat on the press screw. | The stock long screw won't fit the tight knuckle. Cutting it and adding a socket flat gives you a straight, square drive. |
Parts Cross-Reference
| Brand / Source | Part Number | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Snap-On | BJP1-RAM1 | Ball joint remover/installer press kit for Ram HD. |
| Snap-On | BJ P1-38A | Angled adapter that squares the press force on the joint. |
| OTC | 22237 | Receiver tube that fits over the Ram ball joint. |
| Hardware store / DIY | 1/2 inch plate washer (custom-cut) | Spacer to push on the tube square. |
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Shop Now →Frequently Asked Questions
Are the ball joints on a 2018 Ram 4500/5500 angled?
Yes. The ball joints sit at an angle inside the steering knuckle, which is exactly why a standard ball joint press walks off center and stalls. You need an angled adapter (Snap-On BJ P1-38A) to square the push before the joint will move.
What ball joint press kit fits a Ram 4500/5500?
A Snap-On ball joint remover/installer kit with the Ram-specific number BJP1-RAM1 works, and the BJ P1-38A angled adapter is the key piece. If you already own a smaller hardware-store press, you can still use it with the correct OTC 22237 tube and a homemade washer spacer.
What tube fits over the Ram ball joint for a press?
The OTC 22237 receiver tube fits perfectly over the ball joint and gives the press cup a true seat. A small press kit from the hardware store usually does not include the right diameter tube, so order the OTC 22237 on its own.
Why do I need to modify the ball joint press screw?
The stock screw on a compact press is too long to get a straight shot in the tight Ram knuckle. Cut it shorter and grind a flat on the end so a socket can drive it squarely — without that mod, the push never lines up.
Can I do Ram 4500/5500 ball joints with a cheap press?
You can, as long as you add the right pieces: the BJ P1-38A angled adapter, the OTC 22237 tube, a half-inch washer spacer, and a shortened, socket-ready press screw. The kit itself can be a small one — the adapters and tube are what make it work.