A hydraulic unit including a housing (10,11,13) within which is disposed a rotating cylinder barrel (25) driven by an input shaft (21). The housing means includes an end cap (13) disposed adjacent the end (45) of the cylinder barrel, with a valve plate (39) being disposed intermediate the of the barrel and an interior surface (65) of the end cap (13). The end cap defines a kidney port (59), a high pressure port (63), and a passage (61) interconnecting the kidney port and the high pressure port. In a configuration of the end cap which makes the pump compact, high pressure in the passage can cause deformation of a portion (69) of the end cap. To accommodate such deformation, the valve plate (39) is provided with a relieved area (71) disposed immediately adjacent the deformation portion (69). As a result, such that the deformation doesn't cause any deflection of the valve plate, and therefore, doesn't squeeze out the fluid layer between the valve plate valve surface (43) and the end (45) of the cylinder barrel (25).