With the proper shoes and drums in spec you should not need much adjustment at all. Just take out the slack between the and the self adjuster should do the rest. I recently posted instructions on how to set the handbrake cable adjustment. As for direction on the drum side you turn the adjuster up. Lever through the backing plate you push the adjuster down. Once together and working properly they never get adjusted again. If adjustment is needed you need a repair. 
 
Dennis

 
> Date: Fri, 13 May 2016 06:01:33 -0700
> From: dhanson928@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Rear brake adjustment wheels?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> Can anyone suggest an easy way to keep straight which direction to rotate
> the brake-adjuster wheels on our vans?  I always seem to get confused while
> moving from r-side to l-side wheel.  Not the easiest drums to adjust, are
> they?