Pressure variation is one of the major sources on noise emission in the axial type oil piston pumps. Therefore, it is necessary that the pressure variation characteristics of the oil hydraulic piston pumps be clarified to reduce the pump noise. Pressure variations in a cylinder at the discharge region and the pump noise were simultaneously measured with discharge pressures and rotational speeds during the pump working. To investigate the effects of the pre-compression and the V-notch in the valve plate, we used the three types of valve plates. In this research, it is clear that the pressure variation characteristics of axial type oil piston pumps is deeply related to the pre-compression and to the V-notch design in valve plate. Therefore, we could reduce the pump noise by using the appropriate pre-compression angle and the notch design that are between the suction port and the discharge port in valve plate.