Brake service

[spookybathtub]

I've read a lot of conflicting info about how to properly adjust brakes. The service manual says the proper shoe clearance is 0.6mm. But the shoe arc is not a perfect circle, so the diameter differs depending on where you measure.

The manual says, turn the star wheel adjuster until the drum locks, then release the adjuster 12 clicks. But releasing the adjuster is rather difficult. Some people say you should tighten it until the wheel spins about 360˚ and stops. This is the advice I followed today, but I'm trying to understand why you would want any drag. Wouldn't it be better for shoe life and fuel economy to have zero drag until you press the brake pedal??

After the adjustment today, my handbrake went from 11 clicks to 8, which is good. But I noticed the parking brake pull rod is not perpendicular to the cable. Is that normal, or does it mean one brake is too tight? I didn't notice how it looked before the adjustment. Driving around and testing the brakes, I don't feel any pull one way or another.