Suspension & Brakes - Brake Caliper Question

This might be a stupid question, but I don't know the answer. My rear driver side caliper was leaking brake fluid. It was the boot around the cylinder. It was being pushed out of place by the little clip/bracket thingy that goes in the "top" center of the caliper. The boot could not be pushed back in so I bought a new caliper and the bracket looks like it would do the same thing to this one and I can't figure out what the little bracket thingy is actually for so I took it out. I took the one out on the passenger side as well because it was also pushing the boot (not to failure this time). So can anyone tell me what those little clip/bracket thingies are actually for?

Supposedly they place some tension on the pads to prevent them from rattling around.

When the clip is on correctly, and the pads are in the caliper, the pads would push the clip away from the piston's path.

are you talking about the clips that the pads actually sit in? as far as i can tell, the pads are no where near the center clip im referring to.Supposedly they place some tension on the pads to prevent them from rattling around.

When the clip is on correctly, and the pads are in the caliper, the pads would push the clip away from the piston's path.

Perhaps a picture would help.

x2 with the picture.

Picture would help a whole lot.

the arrow is pointing where the clip goes.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d3/anthonyrapitis/4.jpg

I was referring to the center clip (that goes where the red arrow points to in post #7)


[ and not the shims that go on the ends of the pad between the pad and caliper bracket ]

I was referring to the center clip (that goes where the red arrow points to in post #7)


[ and not the shims that go on the ends of the pad between the pad and caliper bracket ]

ok....so whats the deal with it pushing on the rubber boot? should i just bend it away from the boot before putting the clip in place?