The invention relates to a swash plate axial piston pump having several pistons, the piston heads of which are held in contact with the swash plate by means of a retraction plate, and having a central pressure-regulating valve which is forced against a valve spring by the pressure in the pressure chamber. The object is to provide a way of fixing the retraction plate on the swash plate which is simple and cheap to construct and install.This is achieved by arranging and fixing the valve spring between the valve body and the retraction plate.