A brake apparatus for a wheelchair is mounted on one side of a wheelchair, with a corresponding brake apparatus mounted on the opposite side of a wheelchair. The brake apparatus includes an upper assembly mounted on the wheelchair frame just below the padded arm rest of the wheelchair. The upper assembly includes a brake lever and brake handle for locking and unlocking the wheels on each side. The upper assembly is connected to an adjustable strut, which connects to the lower assembly. The lower assembly includes a system of link arms that allows a brake arm having a brake shoe to lock and unlock the wheel on the wheelchair. The length of the strut may be adjusted and the position of the upper and lower assemblies may also be adjusted so that the brake assembly can be configured for operation on various sizes of wheelchairs.