The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes a gear pump includes gears having a gear root diameter and teeth having an addendum and pressure angle. A housing includes a fluid inlet and discharge, bearings configured to position the gear teeth in intermeshing contact across a fluid dam. The fluid dam includes a first face arranged at an angle to a split line, spaced apart from a center line at the split line a first distance towards the inlet, and extending from the first gear root diameter away from the center line to the first gear root diameter, and a second face arranged approximately perpendicular to the split line, spaced apart from the center line at the split line a second distance towards the outlet, and extending between the first gear root diameter and the second gear root diameter.