Front wheel washers?

My Langster came with a couple of thick washers on the front axle. I've perservered with them for a year-and-a-half (they make putting the front wheel in a pain, and I've lost track of whether they go inside or outside the fork ends...) but just taken them off. But what were they for? Since they made taking the wheel out difficult - catching on the safety "lips" - might they be an extra line of defence against the front wheel faling out? Or were they really important!?

Do you mean the locknut?

No, they're flat 1/8"-ish thick washers which are loose on the axle between the locknut and the tracknut. The tracknuts have ingrated rotating washers on them, so its not for that (but maybe Specialized/whoever assembled the bike put extra washers on anyway...?).

I have a Langster. The washers go outside the fork ends. I dont know why you think they make removing the wheel a pain. I imagine they are included as an extra element to prevent the locking nuts from loosening over time.

Ta. Its more a pain putting the wheel back in - making sure both washers stay on the outside (one usually wanders its way across the axle and goes inside or sits at an angle, blocking the fork end going in). So not really necessary if there's already integrated washers on the tracknuts...?

They aren't essential as like you say the tracknuts aren't likely to loosen off with integrated washers. I guess if you find the additional washers bothersome then leave them off.

They're not going to loosen off anyway, since it's the front wheel.

They could be those tabbed safety washers that are designed to hold the wheel in if you're a retard and forget to tighten your nuts.

I've just had a look on Mal's Langster and they're not the tabbed ones I was thinking of, just normal washers. Probably in there to prevent damage to the track nuts on the "lawyer lips" safety lip at the bottom of the fork. I would probably remove them and the fork lips.

...to prevent damage to the track nuts on the "lawyer lips" safety lip at the bottom of the fork.

That sounds like it. They're a little smaller than the tracknut integrated washes, which just fit inside the lawyer lips.

Bump.
I could do with track nuts with smaller flanges/dust cap.