An inlet valve assembly and a fuel pump are disclosed. The assembly comprises first 421 and second 422 base members, a valve member 136, a sleeve 142 and a spring 50 which are axisymmetric about a main axis Z. The end pieces 421,422 are identical and positioned face to face. The collar 142 is fixed over the valve stem 136 and the spring extends between the sleeve and one of the base members. The valve member has a lower end 140 that partially defines a compression chamber. The assembly may be configured either as normally open or normally closed, depending on the position of the biasing spring 50 in relation to the collar 142. A solenoid may or may not be used to allow for operation in an active or passive mode. The assembly allows for bespoke components to be replaced with interchangeable parts, which reduces the complexity of the design, manufacture, development and validation of such valves.
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