Rear spring perch bedding?

Just swapped out my rear springs. Spring perch looked a bit crusty. This popped off:


Some sort of metal paste bedding?
Is it needed? None of the stuff I have found to read about rear springs mentions anything about the bottom of the spring being bedded in anything. I reinstalled it without the crusty bedding:

It's this: https://www.idparts.com/rear-lower-spring-seat-a4-p-1345.html

I think it allows the rear spring to move/rotate a little as the arm goes up and down without grinding on the training arm.

IndigoBlueWagon said:

It's this: https://www.idparts.com/rear-lower-spring-seat-a4-p-1345.html

I think it allows the rear spring to move/rotate a little as the arm goes up and down without grinding on the training arm.

Click to expand...

Ah ok. Well one side still has it, other side doesn’t. For the time being. I think I need a new rear axle. Some serious rust issues on the arms that lead to the bushings. Ugh.

I installed a new axle beam this spring and realized that I forgot to swap those things from the old one (or to install new ones - probably a smarter idea). I haven't noticed any problems without them installed.

It is there as a sacrificial interface between the spring and perch. Made of zinc.