Well, I tried bending a brake shoe return spring...actually two of them.....on my Durango (long story).....first tried bending it.....SNAP!....Then heated it and bent it.....worked great til it had any tension on it and it crumbled.
I have tried bending springs before and had little success except for very light throttle springs, etc.
I havent tried it yet on this particular application because I havent found a spring yet that is close to being the right dimensions...