The springs go inside the ball, i.e., hole on the left side of the lower picture above.
I was fortunate, my springs were original and intact in the functioning brake equalizer (adding a dab of grease to them will keep them in place while installing). I don't know the wire gauge and cannot get to mine as they are installed. (I don't recall who i 'stole' the pictures from or i would give them credit)Where did you get the springs? What is the gauge of the wire?.