clutch cable/solid quadrant install

[greydan]

I just finsihed installing a solid quadrant and adj. cable on my 87 GT (grrrrr) Didn't think I'd have to remove everything under the drivers side dash....but ah well.
Question. When I removed the clutch/brake sub -assembly from the firewall, a spring fell out...it was loose. Looked to me like a clutch return spring about 6 inches long.
The self-adj. origional quardrant, had it's own tensioning spring and didnt use a long return spring like that.
No where in the Ford manual, my Haynes or the Chiltons is a return spring like that pictured on anything other than a non-auto adjust origional set-up, with a solid arm.
I DO HAVE some slop in my clutch petal, with the clutch adjusted.
Baffleing to me, in yet it seems that I should install something on the new quadrant to remove the petal slack, just kinda hangs there. The quardrant isn't notched or drilled for a spring, so????
WHERE? The other side (L) Pedal side.
Don't want to mess it up, took to long to install.