so i just got my car back from the dealer after gettin my cats and alternator changed, and i notice that my pedal feels a bit stiffer than i'm use to and maybe a little lower too. i ignore it thinkin its in my head cause i was drivin a focus for 3 days

.
so get on the highway, and my cruise control is not working.
i take a look in the engine bay... at a glance everything appeared to be fine. so i get back out there drive around a bit, i get used to my pedal again by now... try out the cruise again... pushed all the buttons.. then all of a sudden my pedal becomes very "loose" as if the cruise pulled it from me, but it didnt (i was decelerating if i let go) my throttle response was amazingly fast.. the pedal is very easy to tap. even on surface streets, my take off from every light is almost a burn out.
back in the engine bay... i notice the cable going to the throttle on the left (looking at engine from driverside)has popped off and the little spring is just hanging there

i reconnected the cable with that black clip, but it popped off again. what do i do? and where do i attach the other end of the spring?

maybe a pic would help.