A method of operating a variable capacity vane pump at at least two selectable equilibrium pressures, the pump comprising: a pump casing having a pump chamber therein, a vane pump rotor rotatably mounted in the pump chamber, a pump control ring enclosing the vane pump rotor within said pump chamber and being pivotable to alter the capacity of the pump, a first control chamber between the pump casing and the pump control ring and adjacent the pump control ring, a second control chamber between the pump casing and the pump control ring and adjacent the pump control ring, and a return spring acting between the pump control ring and the pump casing to bias the pump control ring towards a position of maximum volumetric capacity; comprising the following steps: supplying pressurized fluid to the first control chamber to create a force on the pump control ring; and selectively supplying pressurized fluid to the second control chamber to create a force on the pump control ring such that the force pivots the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump, characterised in that the pressurized fluid in the first control chamber creates the force on the pump control ring such that the force pivots the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump, wherein the return spring acts against the pivoting force of the first control chamber to establish a first equilibrium pressure, and wherein the return spring acts against the pivoting force of the first and second control chambers (60, 64) to establish a second equilibrium pressure that is different from the first equilibrium pressure. a pump casing having a pump chamber therein, a vane pump rotor rotatably mounted in the pump chamber, a pump control ring enclosing the vane pump rotor within said pump chamber and being pivotable to alter the capacity of the pump, a first control chamber between the pump casing and the pump control ring and adjacent the pump control ring, a second control chamber between the pump casing and the pump control ring and adjacent the pump control ring, and a return spring acting between the pump control ring and the pump casing to bias the pump control ring towards a position of maximum volumetric capacity; comprising the following steps: supplying pressurized fluid to the first control chamber to create a force on the pump control ring; and selectively supplying pressurized fluid to the second control chamber to create a force on the pump control ring such that the force pivots the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump, supplying pressurized fluid to the first control chamber to create a force on the pump control ring; and selectively supplying pressurized fluid to the second control chamber to create a force on the pump control ring such that the force pivots the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump, characterised in that the pressurized fluid in the first control chamber creates the force on the pump control ring such that the force pivots the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump, wherein the return spring acts against the pivoting force of the first control chamber to establish a first equilibrium pressure, and wherein the return spring acts against the pivoting force of the first and second control chambers (60, 64) to establish a second equilibrium pressure that is different from the first equilibrium pressure.