A brake assembly having a non-braking configuration and a braking configuration, the brake assembly comprising: a brake shoe movable between a neutral shoe position in the non-braking configuration and a braking shoe position in the braking configuration; a brake lining coupled to the brake shoe for engaging with a portion of a brake surface in response to the brake shoe moving to the braking shoe position in the braking configuration; an actuator coupled to the brake shoe , the actuator movable along an actuation path between a neutral actuator position in the non-braking configuration and a braking actuator position in the braking configuration, wherein an actuator distance between the neutral actuator position and the braking actuator position increases in response to a reduction in thickness of the brake lining ; characterized in that said brake assembly comprises further: a ratchet mechanism coupled to the actuator having a plurality of sequential ratchet positions, wherein the actuator distance exceeding a first predetermined distance causes the ratchet mechanism to advance to a next sequential ratchet position to move the neutral actuator position of the actuator a second predetermined distance away from a minimum actuator position; and a sensor coupled to one of the ratchet mechanism or the actuator for determining the sequential ratchet position of the ratchet mechanism . a brake shoe movable between a neutral shoe position in the non-braking configuration and a braking shoe position in the braking configuration; a brake lining coupled to the brake shoe for engaging with a portion of a brake surface in response to the brake shoe moving to the braking shoe position in the braking configuration; an actuator coupled to the brake shoe , the actuator movable along an actuation path between a neutral actuator position in the non-braking configuration and a braking actuator position in the braking configuration, wherein an actuator distance between the neutral actuator position and the braking actuator position increases in response to a reduction in thickness of the brake lining ; characterized in that said brake assembly comprises further: a ratchet mechanism coupled to the actuator having a plurality of sequential ratchet positions, wherein the actuator distance exceeding a first predetermined distance causes the ratchet mechanism to advance to a next sequential ratchet position to move the neutral actuator position of the actuator a second predetermined distance away from a minimum actuator position; and a sensor coupled to one of the ratchet mechanism or the actuator for determining the sequential ratchet position of the ratchet mechanism . a ratchet mechanism coupled to the actuator having a plurality of sequential ratchet positions, wherein the actuator distance exceeding a first predetermined distance causes the ratchet mechanism to advance to a next sequential ratchet position to move the neutral actuator position of the actuator a second predetermined distance away from a minimum actuator position; and a sensor coupled to one of the ratchet mechanism or the actuator for determining the sequential ratchet position of the ratchet mechanism . <EOS>