need help on a 06 ltz400
 

hay everybody need help on a 2006 z400 atv,my naphew just pickedup a z400 with the rear axel broke on it for 1000.00.the guy who had it sent the axle out to be welded but never when to get it (he was told it would never hold).so he got it with no axle in it,he has everything ordered and on the way but i need a question answered.

my question is that spacer in the rear axle what is its purpose of being in their,the parts are here but we just foundout we dont have the spacer that gos in their. it doesent hold the bearing in anyway,and i dont see a purpose except to keep the acle clean i guess.its a long pipe looking spacer.
can anybody tell me if we could leave this long spacer out of the rebuild?

thanks from killer454