A hydraulic motor brake (100, 100') for selectively providing load holding torque to a hydraulic motor (102, 102') having a drive shaft extending therefrom, said hydraulic motor brake comprising: a brake housing (104, 104') mountable to a hydraulic motor (102, 102'), said brake housing defining an internal chamber (134, 134') and a port (154, 154') for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from a source fluidly connected to said port; a plurality of friction-producing members (292, 292' 320, 322) located within said internal chamber and operable to apply load holding torque to the drive shaft of the hydraulic motor; a plate (236, 236') fixedly mounted to said brake housing within said internal chamber; a piston (250, 250') mounted within said internal chamber for bi-directional translation relative to said brake housing and said plate along a longitudinal axis, said piston defining a brake release chamber (280, 280') with said brake housing and said plate, said brake release chamber being in fluid communication with said port for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from said port; and a biasing member (226, 226') located between said brake housing and said piston, said biasing member being operable to exert a biasing force on said piston biasing said piston along said longitudinal axis in a position nearest said plate and in engagement with said friction-producing members; wherein said piston is operable to translate along said longitudinal axis away from said plate and disengage from said friction-producing members in response to pressurized hydraulic fluid being received by said brake release chamber from said port and exerting a force on said piston sufficient to overcome the biasing force exerted on said piston by said biasing member. characterized in that said piston extends about said plate. a brake housing (104, 104') mountable to a hydraulic motor (102, 102'), said brake housing defining an internal chamber (134, 134') and a port (154, 154') for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from a source fluidly connected to said port; a plurality of friction-producing members (292, 292' 320, 322) located within said internal chamber and operable to apply load holding torque to the drive shaft of the hydraulic motor; a plate (236, 236') fixedly mounted to said brake housing within said internal chamber; a piston (250, 250') mounted within said internal chamber for bi-directional translation relative to said brake housing and said plate along a longitudinal axis, said piston defining a brake release chamber (280, 280') with said brake housing and said plate, said brake release chamber being in fluid communication with said port for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid from said port; and a biasing member (226, 226') located between said brake housing and said piston, said biasing member being operable to exert a biasing force on said piston biasing said piston along said longitudinal axis in a position nearest said plate and in engagement with said friction-producing members; wherein said piston is operable to translate along said longitudinal axis away from said plate and disengage from said friction-producing members in response to pressurized hydraulic fluid being received by said brake release chamber from said port and exerting a force on said piston sufficient to overcome the biasing force exerted on said piston by said biasing member. characterized in that said piston extends about said plate.