Self adjusters keep overtighten

I am not agreeing with the above post...... I would expect the front shoe upper end to move off of the pivot point when the parking brake is applied with no drum in place. The p-brake bar is pushing solely on the front shoe, and needs the drum to keep the shoe aligned and to move it around in the normal path to push on the rear shoe when the p-brake is applied.

And doesn't the ring on the end of the adjuster cable just ride on top of the 'guide washer'? ( I am assuming you are calling the guide washer the irregularly shaped flat steel piece on the post and under the ring and springs.) The ring does not set the shoe location; it just 'hangs' on the post.