sounds like you are talking about the centering spring, it is suppose to bring the shifter to neutral when you take the shifter out of gear
I left mine in, alot say you don't need it, so its your call. however I did help a 00 SVT owner put his back in with his B&M shifter and he liked it better with the centering spring, so its all personal preference. Oh yeah some say you can shift faster without it