Just thought if a question somone might be able to help me out with

. When i was fitting my B&M quick shift a few months back i noticed in the haynes manual it mentioned a washer wich i did not have on my old assembly. Basicly there are two rods on the gear stick assembly, one fits to the gearbox and the other to the bodywork. The rod that fits to the bodywork it mentions that this washer must be refiitted on reassembly but i never had one. Just wondered if anyone knows what its for and if i need to put one on.