Vintage Schwinn Fork - Flange Washers
Are the flange washers (they look like eyelet washers) really needed for the front fork? It looks like their only purpose is to be extra insurance from keep the axle from dropping out, but don't the flange nuts do a good enough job?
They are a pain to take out and insert, so I'd rather just leave them out. The bike is a 1977 Schwinn Varsity.