It was installed from the factory for a reason. It helps in protecting the seal from debris. it can also wick up any “slight” oil weepage (if the seal actually leaks it will load up and may eventually stretch out, elongate) If you have the oem balancer that has the stamped disc/shield use it. The only “nay” I’ve ever actually experienced (on a high mileage and aged 78 360) is when you have a leaking seal and that felt gets soaked so much with oil that it stretched out from spinning as to be useless.