Figured I'd share the final outcome for y'all to know....

I found basic rebuild kits online for $19.99 and used the one part I needed... you can see the shiny new cable guide here [EDIT: The photo absolutely refuses to load properly, sorry]... and a pic of how the old one wore out and slackened the cable so it stopped working..

Cheers,
- Art

Art that was too easy.

Yeah it was easy once I saw what the problem was... but dang I had to look real long and hard at it before I saw it ..
Always remember to start looking at the simplest possible answer FIRST.
- A

That was driving you bonkers for quite awhile & I ain't never seen a guide plate do that ever.

I've seen that before. The most likely cause is that when the brakes were assembled, and the spring was pulled up over the show anchor post, The "cam" probably became unseated and the spring held enough pressure against it to hold it in the wrong place. The self adjuster worked until enough of the seat was worn away.

After the shoes are secured to the backing plate, I usually hang the eye for the cable on the shoe anchor post and lay it across the top of the brake show. Then I hook the return springs over the anchor post and make certain the cam is seated. Then I hook up the bottom spring and insert the adjuster. The adjusting cable is hung over the cam, and I pry the adjuster up with a small screw driver until I can connect the end of the cable into the adjuster arm. Any time I tried to connect the cable before installing the return springs, it often will unseat the cam. Gene

From that lesson comes the old adage of KISS, Keep It Simple Silly or Stud, your choice on words used