Dodge: drum brakes, apretice, drum brakes

Question
I just finished a brake job on a 95 neon, with aftermarket pads (certified) to see if i could solve that squeaky brake problem. I used the Haines book. All previous brake work was done by garages.  Front disks no problem. Rear drums many problems. First It took me so many tries to get the first one finished that I damaged the boot on the piston that the top of the shoes sit on. I also had major trouble getting the fine adjustment (just off of the pad) set and i know it is still not correct. When i start my car the brake pedal is now very squishy. The brakes work, but i wonder if i am losing pressure throught the boot. I did lose a little fluid when the boot was damaged. There is no visible brake fluid loss at the resivoir, but i havent been driving it either.
Could damaging that boot cause me to lose brake fluid?
or Is my only problem the final adjustment?
One other thing I did, you would probably kick an apretice for this. The self adjustment mechanism was very long and would not sink all of the way inside the other half and even with a pry bar i could not get it in so i sawed off half an inch. I couldn't see the self adjuster screwing out that far. I thought i would be ok because the picture in the book showed one side totally sank in the other during install and mine didn't.
What do you think?
Thanks Greg

Answer
I think you will have problems with the brakes since you sawed off part of the adjusting mechanisum. This adjusts the drum brakes, as the wheel turns. If you  damaged the boot you will loose brake fluid. Sounds like you will have to take it apart and fix it again. Thanks.