An inlet control valve for a high pressure fuel pump, said high pressure fuel pump having an inlet valve feed passage and a pumping chamber where a pumping plunger reciprocates between a pumping phase and a charging phase, said inlet control valve comprising: an inlet valve arranged to control fluid flow from said inlet valve feed passage to said pumping chamber, said inlet valve including a disc-shaped valve member integrally connected to an inlet valve stem, said valve member having a stroke along an axis between an open position to a closed position, said valve stem coupled to an inlet valve armature such that the inlet valve armature and the valve member move together; an inlet valve bias member biasing said valve member toward said open position; an inlet valve seat having an annular surface configured to mate with said valve member and defining a cylindrical bore, said cylindrical bore receiving said valve stem and guiding movement of the valve member between said open and closed positions, a first side of said valve member in communication with said inlet valve feed passage and a second side of said valve member in communication with said pumping chamber; an inlet valve stop facing said inlet valve seat and positioned on an opposite side of said valve member from said inlet valve seat; an inlet valve solenoid including an electromagnetic coil generating a magnetic field in an inlet valve pole to attract said inlet valve armature, said inlet valve pole positioned coaxial to said inlet valve armature; a gap defined along said axis between said inlet valve armature and said inlet valve pole when said valve member is in said open position, said gap being greater than said stroke; a fluid flow passage connecting said inlet valve feed passage and said pumping chamber; and wherein said valve member is in contact with said inlet valve stop permitting fluid flow through said fluid flow passage when said valve member is in said open position, energizing said solenoid moves said valve member from said open position to said closed position compressing said bias member, and said valve member is mated with said inlet valve seat preventing fluid flow through said fluid flow passage and leaving an armature gap between said inlet valve armature and said inlet valve pole when said valve member is in said closed position. an inlet valve arranged to control fluid flow from said inlet valve feed passage to said pumping chamber, said inlet valve including a disc-shaped valve member integrally connected to an inlet valve stem, said valve member having a stroke along an axis between an open position to a closed position, said valve stem coupled to an inlet valve armature such that the inlet valve armature and the valve member move together; an inlet valve bias member biasing said valve member toward said open position; an inlet valve seat having an annular surface configured to mate with said valve member and defining a cylindrical bore, said cylindrical bore receiving said valve stem and guiding movement of the valve member between said open and closed positions, a first side of said valve member in communication with said inlet valve feed passage and a second side of said valve member in communication with said pumping chamber; an inlet valve stop facing said inlet valve seat and positioned on an opposite side of said valve member from said inlet valve seat; an inlet valve solenoid including an electromagnetic coil generating a magnetic field in an inlet valve pole to attract said inlet valve armature, said inlet valve pole positioned coaxial to said inlet valve armature; a gap defined along said axis between said inlet valve armature and said inlet valve pole when said valve member is in said open position, said gap being greater than said stroke; a fluid flow passage connecting said inlet valve feed passage and said pumping chamber; and wherein said valve member is in contact with said inlet valve stop permitting fluid flow through said fluid flow passage when said valve member is in said open position, energizing said solenoid moves said valve member from said open position to said closed position compressing said bias member, and said valve member is mated with said inlet valve seat preventing fluid flow through said fluid flow passage and leaving an armature gap between said inlet valve armature and said inlet valve pole when said valve member is in said closed position.