Sticking Starter

[bbook]

I was having problems in my 36 1.5 ton with the starting binding up, so I bought a new starter with the newer style Bendix. It bound up even more often, so I went back to the old starter but continue have problems. With some research I find that there is an "L" bracket from the starter to the oil pan that isn't on my starter. Is that bracket just for grounding or is it a critical item to support the starter and potentially help with the binding problem?