Eric--As I understood the purpose of the springy in the wheel cylinders
was to keep SOME pressure on the shoes to prevent low pedal. The shoe
return springs would push all the fluid out & collapse the cyls . We took
apart Brazilian & German cylinders to see the differences a few years
back & the Bz ones had no spring and a lower brake pedal when
installed--the German ones had an inch or so higher pedal
consistently...FWIW..
Daryl of AA Transaxle, Duvall, Wa.
(425) 788-4070
1-877-377-0773 toll free
aatransaxle.com