Abstract: Variable damping apparatus of the fluid pumping type includes an adjustable valve. The valve comprises a stationary plate having a bleed orifice and one or more additional orifices opening axially therethrough, each said additional orifice including a blowoff valve, and a rotatable plate having a bleed orifice and an additional orifice opening axially therethrough, the rotatable plate being disposed adjacent the stationary plate to vary orifice communication with rotation. As the rotatable plate is rotated in opposite directions with respect to the stationary plate away from a position of full communication between the bleed orifices of said plates, the communication of the additional orifices of the plates is varied in a different manner in each rotational direction for equal degrees of communication between the bleed orifices.