Welding rear axles to drive flanges

[robdav]

Had the rear axles on my 130 welded to the drive flanges on a recent overland trip through Africa as the lateral movement of the axles on the bad roads kept knocking the dust caps off. I later sourced some larger dust caps of an earlier model that would have solved the problem.
Anyway, now that we are back in OZ what are the possible negatives of leaving the welded ones in place or should I buy some new axles and drive flanges.

[Blknight.aus]

no negatives until the axles snap at the welds.

then you're up for new axles and flanges, maybe stubs (since the damage will most likely be at the outer end of the stub) and bearings

essentially just the same as if you have a catastrophic failure of the axle at the start of the drive splines on the drive flange side of the axle.

[rainman]

I went down the welding path years ago because of worn spines and subsequent backlash. I never had any problems other than the welds only lasting a few months and it simply reverting to worn spline backlash, whereby I would just weld it again (but that could have been my poor welding ;)). I eventually went Maxi Drive.

[bee utey]

If they are only welded on the outside I would be tempted to leave them, just keep an eye on the weld. If they are welded on the inside of the hubs chuck 'em soonest.