A surgical instrument including a firing drive configured to advance a cutting member and/or staple driver within an end effector, and a brake configured to prevent, or at least partially inhibit, the relative movement of the cutting member and/or staple driver. The surgical instrument can further include a firing member operably engaged with the cutting member, for example, a band connected to the firing member, and a reel, where the band can be configured to be wound around the reel. In various embodiments, the brake can be selectively engageable with the reel and/or band to prevent, or limit, the movement of the band. The brake can include a brake surface where relative movement between the band and the brake surface can generate a friction force therebetween which can hold the firing member in position until a sufficient force is applied to the firing member to overcome the friction force.
