front brake advise needed

[Vin-tin]

No brake rods are hooked up to any brake arms. I fitted my new shoes to the new drums using my shoe grinding machine. My front brake actuating arm is leaning 15 degrees forward. There's maybe 5 degrees of rotational play before it pushes on the shoes. With one shim added to the pin/wedge, it reduced my play, but not all. Two shims added and there's no play, but my shoes aren't "relaxing" as far as they could. My drum does go on but it rubs pretty bad as I spin it.
So what is the proper way to correct this?

Do I remove one shim and have slight rotational play?
Do I grind more lining from the shoes? (didn't really want to do that)
Do I grind a slight amount off the actuating pin?
Or should I do nothing and let the new shims "wear-in" once I get this chassis rolling?

[wmws]

I would remove one shim.

[MAG]

"There's maybe 5 degrees of rotational play before it pushes on the shoes."
Work in this area.
The Brake Operating Pin is 7 1/4" when new. Even if this shaft is as new, wear in other components will effects its length. Add stock on the pin and dress it for polished end. Check to see if the 5 degree play is gone. Grind or add stock until you have the play gone. Make sure the shoes come to their normal limit. Avoid using the shims/pills if you can.

[1955cj5]

I believe the goal is to have the actuating arm reach the 15° point just as the brake wedge is beginning to move. So no slack at the 15° point, but no wedge movement either. You will have slack prior to reaching the 15° angle.

That way when brakes are applied the actuating arm moves toward vertical. When it reaches vertical maximum mechanical advantage is being applied to the wedge and brake shoes....

[Vin-tin]

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I fixed it.
I removed one shim. Still the same. Then I noticed the one brake adjusting shaft was only touching the adjusting wedge in one area (shiny spot). I dresses the angle of the shaft a bit and smoothed the end and now everything is good.
I still have one shim installed and the brake arm is at 15 degrees and only moves ever so slightly before it starts too push the shoes apart. Drum also spins freely now.
That should be good.
Thanks guys.