1. Does it matter if the squealer is at the top or bottom of the pad?

2. I broke 3 c-clamps trying to push in my calipers, in the past I could do it with a big pair of channel locks easily, I think my calipers are about shot, right?

 

if you broke a c clamp pushing the piston in you need a new caliper and the pads should go back in the same as they came out.