front caliper problems
 

well, i figure, since i can't drive it (a little over a month to go now, though), i should get in as much maintenance and all that as possible, especially since most of it is overdue...
i changed the back brakes a couple months ago, had to replace a caliper, etc... and i learned a bit about disc brakes... (this is my first car that i've actually done my own maintenance on... lots of good learning experiences)...

a few days ago, i set out to change the front brake pads.
getting the caliper unmounted was simple, but the pins that hold the pads in gave me a bit of trouble and now i'm not sure if i screwed anything up.

questions:
-what is the purpose of the small metal spring-like objects between the pads and connected to the pins?

the smaller of the two broke when i was trying to remove the pins, but i got the larger one out intact...
judging by what i think they do, they seem pretty necessary, but they are so small and fragile it seems absurd they would be necessary... yet at the same time, i think, how could they not?

-if they are not necessary, what holds the pins in the caliper?

...sigh... i've been looking for a haynes manual forever, but nowhere local has a protege one.

any help on this would be appreciated...

If you go to a local parts store you can buy everything individually for the brakes. One of my spring clips (the smaller spring) broke while I was on a track and the pin came out doing damage to my rim. There are two springs, one keeps the pads seperated when there is no load on the piston, and the other keeps the pin in the caliper. The caliper retaining spring (when I recieved the new kit) was replaced with small hairpins. IMO this will work much better, and the 4 pin set with clips was only 5 bux or so. Just get a pin set and it comes with new pins and springs.

Re: front caliper problems
 

check you local library for manuals, some even have shop manuals

Ebay is also another good source

Haynes manual

The chain Pep Boys usually has Haynes. The other guys have Chilton's, which are shitty IMO