Apple 5.25 drive: Metal Plate Required

[Puckdropper <puckdropper(at)yahoo(dot)com>]

I picked up an Apple 5.25 drive (model A9M0107) today.  There were some 
mysterious flakes coming out, and after disassembly I found the metal plate 
below the circuit board directly above the drive head had started to rust 
and flake badly.  My quesition is, is this plate required?

It seems to function as a spacer, but does it do something else as well?  I 
think it'd be a lot easier to find a couple washers to work as spacers than 
it would be to have someone make a new plate.  

Thanks,

Puckdropper
-- 
"The potential difference between the top and bottom of a tree is the 
reason why all trees have to be grounded..." -- Bored Borg on 
rec.woodworking

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm