Yes there's a spring on the brake rod. But the springs between the pads pull the shoes away from the drums when you release the pedal forcing the fluid back thru the wheel cylinders into the master cylinder.
Absolutely... but my lazy old leg told me to stick in a power booster.Not sure who really made my disc brake kit. I got mine from Jeg's but it looks like the kit that comes from Master Power Brakes. They are non-power front disc and they stop the car real quick.