Abstract: A brake assembly for vehicles has a back plate with brake shoes and actuating members mounted thereto. A cam shaft and cam member are disposed through a radial extension on the back plate, such that when a brake pedal is depressed an actuator shaft is moved laterally. A linkage member interconnects the actuator shaft and the cam shaft so that linear movement of the actuator shaft is converted into rotational movement of the cam shaft. The cam member is disposed between the brake shoes so that when the cam shaft and cam member move rotationally, the brake shoes are moved radially and into frictional engagement with the brake drum.