Disco 2 Gear stick & gaiter

Just in the process of replacing my gear stick gaiter.

When I removed the old one, I found the actual gear stick was held together with tape & tie wraps ??
When I look at the stick part that the knob screws to, it has a fatter section part before it bolts to the gearbox. Is this some type of rubber coupler/damper between the box and the knob ?

It was all bound up with tie wraps top to bottom and wound with black tape.

I've removed it all and it seems fine, but was obviously done for a reason.

Any help appreciated

Mat

If it's going to fail and come to pieces it won't do it yet, it'll wait until that moment when you absolutely must change gear.
Maybe it was somebody's try out for curing some virbation somewhere.

OK thanks, is that what it's for ? just a rubber coupling to get rid of vibrations ?