Pilot bearing

Don't forget slanty pedals have a different ratio than V8 pedals, and the down-rod on the V8 pedal gets retracted IIRC, about 5/8" further into the cab.
The picture and Dave's comment mesh with this.

The spring down there is just an anti-rattle spring, not designed to push the pedal back, but rather to pull the TO bearing off the fingers..