A gear pump includes a pair of gears having meshed teeth. One of the gears is configured for connection to a source of drive. The gears are received within a housing. The housing has an inlet port configured for connection to a source of fluid and an outlet port. Each of the gears have a shaft rotating within the housing on a bearing on each axial side of each gear. At least one of the bearings associated with each of the pair of gears has a plurality of springs received in recesses to bias the said at least one bearing against an end face of a respective one of the pair of gears. A retention plate holds each of the plurality springs. A method of assembly is also disclosed.