<p>A fuel injector (32) is provided having a needle valve element (46) and a nozzle member (44) with a central bore (70) configured to slidingly receive the needle valve element. The fuel injector (32) also has a spring (84) configured to bias the needle valve element (46) toward a closed position. In addition, the fuel injection assembly has a guide element (76) configured to reduce a lateral movement of the needle valve element (46). The fuel injection assembly further has a fluid flow restricting device (78) configured to restrict the flow of a fluid through the needle valve element (46) and create a fluid pressure differential between the fluid upstream and downstream of the fluid flow restricting device (78).</p>
