Difference in tie rod ends for disk and drum?

[Possmguts]

I ordered a kit that includes inner and outer tie rod ends. I got them today but the inner and outer are the same length. What was on the truck was longer inner and shorter outer. The seller asked me if I have disk or drum brakes. It does have disks, but I thought that didnt matter. So the question is.. is there a difference in the inner length for disks and drum brake?

[67 cst swb]

Your question is kind of vague.
What year truck? Is it a stock spindle or drop spindle.

To answer your question of; are the inner tie rods different from disc to drum? YES

The drum brakes ended in 1970, disc brakes started in 1971.
The inner part number from pre-70 (drum) to 1971/72 (Disc) are different. Which are different from 73-later (disc).

All this is assuming you are talking 1/2 ton 2wd.

[Possmguts]

Originally Posted by 67 cst swb

Your question is kind of vague.
What year truck? Is it a stock spindle or drop spindle.

To answer your question of; are the inner tie rods different from disc to drum? YES

The drum brakes ended in 1970, disc brakes started in 1971.
The inner part number from pre-70 (drum) to 1971/72 (Disc) are different. Which are different from 73-later (disc).

All this is assuming you are talking 1/2 ton 2wd.

Its a 67 2wd 1/2 ton that was converted to disks. Im assuming it still has stock spindles? The PO had no idea what the conversion came off of. But the existing inner tierods are longer than the outers.

[67 cst swb]

My catalogs don't show me dimensions or lengths of the tie rods.
But, what did you order the 'kit" for?
You will possibly need to figure out whether you have a 73-later spindle (73-86 had HD rotors of 1-1/4" thick and 80-86 also had light-duty 1" thick) or a 71-72 spindle (same 1-1/4" rotor as the 73-86 HD rotor)
Best way to determine which spindle you have is the thickness of the area where the tie rod end goes thru the spindle. The 73-later is thicker (top to bottom) than the 71-72. Although I do not remember that measurement.

EDIT: I found some measurements for tie rods.
67-70
inner- end of threads to centerline of joint = 7.16", thread diameter 5/8" RH, thread on tapered end = 7/16"
outer- end of threads to centerline of joint = 7.16", thread diameter 5/8" LH, thread on tapered end = 7/16"

71-72
inner- end of threads to centerline of joint = 8.80", thread diameter 11/16" LH, thread on tapered end = 1/2"
outer- end of threads to centerline of joint = 6.38", thread diameter 11/16" RH, thread on tapered end = 1/2"

73-later
inner- end of threads to centerline of joint = 8.66", thread diameter 11/16" LH, thread on tapered end = 5/8"
outer- end of threads to centerline of joint = 6.74", thread diameter 11/16" RH, thread on tapered end = 9/16"

So, it appears to me that you ordered a "kit" for a 67-70 drum brake application. But in order to get the correct "kit" you again will need to find out what spindles you have on the truck.
Measure what is on the truck now and use the info above to determine what parts it has on it now.

Hope this helps.

[Possmguts]

Originally Posted by 67 cst swb

My catalogs don't show me dimensions or lengths of the tie rods.
But, what did you order the 'kit" for?
You will possibly need to figure out whether you have a 73-later spindle (73-86 had HD rotors of 1-1/4" thick and 80-86 also had light-duty 1" thick) or a 71-72 spindle (same 1-1/4" rotor as the 73-86 HD rotor)
Best way to determine which spindle you have is the thickness of the area where the tie rod end goes thru the spindle. The 73-later is thicker (top to bottom) than the 71-72. Although I do not remember that measurement.

I appreciate your help on this.
The rotors are 1-1/4" and the area the tie rod goes is 1" (same with the new ones I ordered for the 67) so I guess the existing ones looks like I may have 71-72? The kit I ordered didnt say if they was for drum or disk but supposedly work on 65-71
The ones Im taking off are not drop spindles though and I have new 2-1/2" drop spindles from CPP going on. The area the tie rod goes is also 1' on the new ones.
But the top of the old spindle where the top ball joint goes is 1-3/8" thick and the new one its 1-1/8". But the new ball joints work for the new spindles and not the old ones... so maybe the old ones are after 71?
So now Im hoping the rotors work on the new spindles.... this is getting confusing....

[67 cst swb]

Ok, I am just assuming here.
But I think the stock disc spindles you are taking off are 71-72.
The drop spindles you are putting on are 73-80 (actually 86 buy lets keep it simple)
the "kit" you order was for 65-70 (will not work)
The rotors are all the same 71-80

Did the ball joints come with the spindles?

[Possmguts]

Originally Posted by 67 cst swb

Ok, I am just assuming here.
But I think the stock disc spindles you are taking off are 71-72.
The drop spindles you are putting on are 73-80 (actually 86 buy lets keep it simple)
the "kit" you order was for 65-70 (will not work)
The rotors are all the same 71-80

Did the ball joints come with the spindles?

The spindles did not come with anything, they only stated they work for the 67. The ball joints and tie rods came in the kit together I bought for 65-71.

[67 cst swb]

Call CPP and ask what year ball joints and tie rod ends must be used with the spindle part number you bought.

[Possmguts]

Ok just to update this... It looks like Im needing to get linkage parts for a 73-80 since my truck was converted to disk brakes at some point using parts from those years. Its not the tie rods that are my problem its the center link I need to swap out since the spindles are for the 67. I think lol

[67 cst swb]

After speaking with you on the phone.
I believe you should be good to go with all the parts you have purchased, as you bought CPP CP4S2 63-70 drop spindles and you bought 65-70 ball joints and tie rod ends
The only issue you will have is your previously converted to disc 1967 truck was converted using 71-72 stuff (spindles, control arms, tie rod ends, etc...) So, it is my assumption that you will need to locate a 68-70 centerlink to get the 63-70 steering stuff to work. The 63-67 centerlink may be the same, but I have no catalogs to verify that. The 68-70 and the 71-72 Idler and pitman are the same as long as you stay power steering pitman and this will work with the 63-70 tie rod ends.
To keep things simple... try to locate a 68/69/70 centerlink.