A hydraulic motor brake for selectively providing load holding torque to a hydraulic motor having a drive shaft extending therefrom, said hydraulic motor brake comprising: a brake housing mountable to a hydraulic motor , said brake housing defining an internal chamber and a port 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 fixedly mounted to said brake housing within said internal chamber; a piston 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 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 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 mountable to a hydraulic motor , said brake housing defining an internal chamber and a port 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 fixedly mounted to said brake housing within said internal chamber; a piston 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 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 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. <EOS>