A brake assembly for a toy vehicle includes first and second wheel assemblies mounted on a axle, a cam which is rotatable with the first wheel assembly, and a brake member which is activatable by the cam to engage the second wheel assembly. An orthogonal gear assembly, including first and second gear members, drives the cam. A shaft member is disposed orthogonal to the axle and bears the cam and second gear member. The first gear member is mounted an the axle. The shaft is pivotally mounted and movable between a first position in which the first and second gear members are engaged and a second position in which the first and second gear members are disengaged.