So I recently scored a CJ-7 with a Dana 60 in back. I pulled the diff cover and discovered the previous owner welded the spider gears. This is a trailered off road jeep only so that's not a concern. My concern is what's the reliability of that setup vs a locker?

 

depends on how good of a welder they were.

 

No truer words spoken are the welds deep enough for strength or were they over heated to the point of making them weak? Most of the people who do that just want to save money wherever they can and will use equipment not meant to do the job or lack the skills needed to do them properly.

 

Is the dana 60 a full float or semi float axle ?

 

a locker will let you coast around corners or slightly accelerate, but a welded diff will always be engaged, therefor your inside tire will spin/squeal while trying to keep up with the outside tire. you will go through rear tires a lot quicker.
but when off roading, you at least have full traction, all the time giving you the most benefit while wheeling.

so it all really depends if whether you drive this on the streets or mainly wheel it off road.

i've always used lockers, but a buddy had his welded, and when he was at my shop, he turned around on my lawn and chewed it all to hell. so, there's that.

 

I would replace it with a spool personally. I wouldn't trust somebody else's weld job.

 

just an fyi, a spool (full or mini) works like a welded diff. so it will react just like welded spider gears. but it is a better option than welding.

if they're welded now, they're probably just fine, otherwise they would've broke already.

wheel it till it breaks. that may never happen, but have at it...

 

Thanks for the replies. Welds look good I'll beat it up till or if it breaks I'll go locker.
This is a full float D-60 btw