Xantia brakes

[davethewheel]

having just purchased a 1996 Xantia td on inspecting the rear brakes i found there is no kind of anti rattle springs on the pads ,there is only the pads and the split pin alowing the pads to rattle about(is this normal)also on braking it feels as though the amount that i am pressing the brake pedal varies could this be a acumulature sphere problem (can here it clicking about once every 20 sec) cheers dave