Just bought an 06 with 110k miles and found a spacer on the driver front. WTF! How is that even possible?

 

Just bought my 2nd S2k, a 2003 AP1, very low miles (28k), and bone stock. I'm the 5th owner, clean carfax, car looks almost showroom clean.

Figured after 14 years of 4 previous owners, dealer visits, etc. there's no way there would be any spacers, right? Wrong, lol.

Checked today, and found one spacer on the driver rear, partially pulled out, but still binding 3 coils. Damn thing was TIGHT, even with the rear jacked up and wheels hanging, I broke it into 3 pieces, and had to get a huge pair of channel locks to pull it out, after a lot of wrestling with it.

Crazy. Spacer found on driver rear, 2003 AP1.

 

Found one on the driver side front. The spacer was tucked in the corner between the coil and the "wall" in the wheel well. Would never have seen it if I didn't lift up the car and was deliberately looking for it with a flash light. In fact I think I missed it the first time.
My car is an '03 with 13k miles.