a braking system includes a master cylinder that is operational to introduce a manually effected braking pressure in the braking system and includes a wheel brake that is responsive to the manually effected braking pressure . a modulator is interconnected in the braking system between the master cylinder and the wheel brake and includes a pump that has an inlet and an outlet wherein the inlet is in continuous open fluid communication with the wheel brake through a first fluid passageway . the first fluid passageway is free of any flow restrictive orifices and the first fluid passageway is not in fluid communication with an accumulator . the modulator also includes a normally open valve that is positioned in a second fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway extends between the wheel brake and both the pump outlet and the master cylinder . during base brake operation of the braking system , the pump and the valve remain unoperated so that the manually effected pressure is freely transmitted to the wheel brake . during abs release operation , the pump is turned on and the valve is energized to close , blocking the second fluid passageway so that a reduced wheel brake fluid pressure is effected at the wheel brake and a rate of reduction of the wheel brake pressure is established that is directly proportional to , and from a mechanical effect standpoint , is a result solely of pump flow rate .