A Rocker Retainer is a clip that holds a rocker arm onto its pivot, lash adjuster or lifter. It's designed to keep the rocker in place if valve spring pressure is lost for a split second.

<p>A Rocker Retainer is a clip that holds a rocker arm onto its pivot, lash adjuster or lifter. It&apos;s designed to keep the rocker in place if valve spring pressure is lost for a split second.</p><h3 id="why-some-engines-need-them">Why some engines need them</h3><p>Many modern engines use rocker arms (also called finger followers) that aren&apos;t fixed in place. One end sits on a pivot or lash adjuster, the other end sits on the valve, and the camshaft pushes down in the middle. Only valve spring pressure holds the rocker there.</p><p>If that pressure drops for a moment, from valve float, valve bounce, a sticking valve or an over-rev, the rocker can lift and walk off its pivot. A loose rocker can cause a misfire, or get caught by the camshaft and seriously damage the engine.</p><p>Some prestige engines, like the BMW B58 in the GR Supra and the Lexus 2UR-GSE V8, use rocker retention from the factory for this reason.</p><h3 id="how-a-rocker-retainer-works">How a Rocker Retainer works</h3><p>The clip locates in a groove on the part the rocker sits on. In our FA/FB, G16E-GTS and SR20 kits, that&apos;s a Denstoj pivot, lash adjuster or solid lifter with our retaining groove. On the 4G63, the factory lash adjusters already have a groove, so the kit is clips only.</p><p>In normal running, the clip doesn&apos;t affect how the rocker works. If the rocker tries to lift off, the clip is designed to catch it and hold it in place until valve spring pressure returns. This reduces the risk of a dropped rocker and a costly rebuild.</p><h3 id="what-a-rocker-retainer-doesnt-do">What a Rocker Retainer doesn&apos;t do</h3><p>It&apos;s a safety net, not a performance part. It doesn&apos;t make the valvetrain stronger or raise your safe rev limit, and a severe over-rev can still break the clips. See <strong>Do Rocker Retainers let me rev my engine higher?</strong></p><h3 id="which-engines-do-you-make-them-for">Which engines do you make them for?</h3><ul><li>Subaru FA and FB (Toyota 86, GR86, Subaru BRZ, WRX and more)</li><li>Toyota G16E-GTS (GR Yaris and GR Corolla)</li><li>Nissan SR20DE and SR20DET (hydraulic head)</li><li>Mitsubishi 4G63 (Lancer Evolution)</li></ul><p>See <strong>Which engines do you make parts for?</strong> for every kit.</p>

What is a Rocker Retainer?

Subaru FA/FB, Toyota G16E-GTS (GR Yaris and GR Corolla), Nissan SR20DE/SR20DET and Mitsubishi 4G63. More engines are in development.

<p>We currently make rocker retention and valvetrain parts for these engines:</p>
<h3 id="subaru-fa-and-fb-toyota-86-gr86-subaru-brz-wrx-and-more">Subaru FA and FB (Toyota 86, GR86, Subaru BRZ, WRX and more)</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/fa20-fb-rocker-retainer-kit">FA/FB Rocker Retainer Kit</a></li>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/denstoj-engine-lift-bracket-for-fa-fb-subaru-engine">Engine Lift Bracket</a></li>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/denstoj-easy-fit-gear-selector-rod-bush-86-brz-fr-s">EASY FIT Gear Selector Rod Bush</a> (86 / BRZ / FR-S)</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="toyota-g16e-gts-gr-yaris-and-gr-corolla">Toyota G16E-GTS (GR Yaris and GR Corolla)</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/g16e-gts-yaris-gr-rocker-retainer-kit-by-denstoj">Hydraulic Lash Adjusters with Rocker Retainers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/denstoj-solid-lifters-with-rocker-retainers-for-g16e-gts-toyota-engine-gr-yaris-gr-corolla">Solid Pivot Conversion with Rocker Retainers</a></li>
<li>Kelford camshafts and valve springs to suit (email <a href="mailto:sales@denstoj.com.au">sales@denstoj.com.au</a> to order)</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="nissan-sr20de-and-sr20det-hydraulic-head">Nissan SR20DE and SR20DET (hydraulic head)</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/denstoj-rocker-retainer-clips-for-sr20-nissan-engine-s13-s14-s15-n15">Hydraulic Lash Adjusters with Rocker Retainers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/denstoj-solid-lifters-with-rocker-retainers-for-sr20-nissan-engine-s13-s14-s15-n15">Solid Pivot Conversion with Rocker Retainers</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Not compatible with the solid lifter GTI-R head (RNN14 Pulsar GTI-R, Sunny GTI-R).</p>
<h3 id="mitsubishi-4g63-lancer-evolution">Mitsubishi 4G63 (Lancer Evolution)</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/denstoj-rocker-retainer-clips-for-4g63-mitsubishi-engine-evo-1-3-cast-rockers">Rocker Retainers for Evo 1 to 3 (cast rockers)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://denstoj.com.au/products/4g63-pivot-retainer-clips">Rocker Retainers for Evo 4 to 9 (pressed rockers)</a></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="in-development">In development</h3>
<p>We&apos;re working on parts for the Toyota 2GR-FE V6, Toyota/Lexus 3UR-FE 5.7L V8, Audi RS3 2.5L EA855, and solid lifters for the 4G63. Email <a href="mailto:sales@denstoj.com.au">sales@denstoj.com.au</a> to join the waiting list.</p>
<h3 id="dont-see-your-engine">Don&apos;t see your engine?</h3>
<p>Let us know what you&apos;re building. If there&apos;s enough demand for an engine with floating rockers, we&apos;ll look at developing a kit.</p>

Which engines do you make parts for?

A sudden misfire, a check engine light, ticking from the cylinder head, low power or oil from the tappet cover. Stop driving, don't rev it, and have the valvetrain checked.

<p>The most common signs are a sudden misfire, a check engine light, a new ticking or tapping noise from the cylinder head, and a loss of power. These can have other causes too, so only an inspection will confirm it.</p><h3 id="common-signs">Common signs</h3><ul><li>A misfire or rough idle, often on one cylinder</li><li>A check engine light, usually with a misfire code</li><li>Ticking, tapping or clattering from the top of the engine</li><li>Low power</li><li>Oil leaking from the tappet (rocker) cover, or a smell of burning oil</li></ul><p>On FA and FB engines, a loose rocker can be picked up by the camshaft and punched through the tappet cover. Oil can then spray onto the exhaust, which is a fire risk.</p><h3 id="what-to-do">What to do</h3><ul><li><strong>Stop driving</strong> as soon as it&apos;s safe. A loose rocker can get caught in the valvetrain and turn a repairable problem into a rebuild.</li><li><strong>Don&apos;t rev the engine</strong> to see if the problem clears.</li><li><strong>Have the valvetrain checked</strong> by a qualified mechanic before you drive the car again. That means taking off the tappet cover and inspecting every rocker.</li></ul><h3 id="reducing-the-risk">Reducing the risk</h3><p>Rocker Retainers are designed to hold the rocker in place if valve spring pressure is lost for a split second, which reduces the risk of a dropped rocker. See <strong>What is a Rocker Retainer?</strong> and <strong>Which engines do you make parts for?</strong></p>

What are the signs of a dropped rocker?

Any time. The best value time is when the engine is already being worked on: a rebuild, a cam or valve spring upgrade, a valve clearance check, or on FA/FB engines, any job with the engine out.

<p>Any time. The sooner they&apos;re fitted, the sooner you&apos;ve reduced the risk of a dropped rocker. The best value time is when the engine is already being worked on, so you only pay for the labour once.</p><h3 id="good-times-to-fit-them">Good times to fit them</h3><ul><li><strong>An engine rebuild.</strong> It would be devastating to spend the time and money on a fresh build and lose it to a dropped rocker. We&apos;ve seen it happen.</li><li><strong>A camshaft or valve spring upgrade</strong></li><li><strong>A valve clearance check</strong></li><li><strong>On FA and FB engines:</strong> any job or service that has the engine out, such as a spark plug change</li></ul><h3 id="how-long-does-it-take">How long does it take?</h3><ul><li><strong>FA/FB kit:</strong> about an hour per side once the engine is out. See <strong>Do I need to remove the engine to fit the FA/FB kit?</strong></li><li><strong>G16E-GTS kits:</strong> 4 to 6 hours with the engine in the car. See <strong>How do I install the G16E-GTS kit?</strong></li></ul><p>In Australia? We can fit the FA/FB kit at our Newcastle workshop. See <strong>Can Denstoj install the kit for me?</strong></p>

When is the best time to fit Rocker Retainers?

No. Rocker Retainers are a safety net, not a fix for valve float. They're designed to hold a rocker in place if spring pressure is lost for a split second, but don't make the valvetrain stronger.

<p>No. Rocker Retainers are a safety net, not a performance part.</p>
<p>They&apos;re designed to hold the rocker in place for the split second that valve spring pressure is lost, whether from valve float, valve bounce or a sticking valve. They don&apos;t make the rockers, springs or valves any stronger, and they don&apos;t raise your safe rev limit. A severe over-rev can still break the clips.</p>
<p>If your engine is regularly losing valve control, a retainer only hides the real problem. Fix the cause first:</p>
<ul>
<li>Valve springs that suit your cam and RPM</li>
<li>A sensible, well-tuned rev limiter (fuel cut on SR20s)</li>
<li>Correct valve clearance</li>
<li>Clean valves without carbon build-up</li>
</ul>
<p>Want more RPM on a G16E-GTS or SR20? Solid lifters with a matching camshaft are the right path. See <strong>G16E-GTS: hydraulic lash adjusters or solid lifters?</strong></p>

Do Rocker Retainers let me rev my engine higher?

No. Upgraded springs can reduce the chance of valve float, but the rocker is still only held by spring pressure. Springs stiffer than your cam needs can also add unnecessary wear.

<p>No. Upgraded valve springs can reduce the chance of valve float, but they don&apos;t hold the rocker arm in place. The rocker is still only held by spring pressure, so anything that unloads it for a split second can still let it walk off its pivot.</p><p>Even with upgraded springs, a rocker can still be unloaded by:</p><ul><li>A missed shift or over-rev</li><li>A sticking valve, often from carbon build-up</li><li>A misfire</li></ul><h3 id="can-stiffer-springs-make-things-worse">Can stiffer springs make things worse?</h3><p>They can. Springs that are stiffer than your camshaft needs add load to the whole valvetrain and can cause unnecessary wear. Choose springs that suit your cam and RPM, not simply the stiffest you can find.</p><h3 id="what-we-recommend">What we recommend</h3><ul><li>Valve springs matched to your camshaft. On the G16E-GTS, all three Kelford cams we supply need the Kelford KVS264 spring kit. See <strong>Which camshaft and valve springs should I run on my G16E-GTS?</strong></li><li>Correct valve clearance</li><li>A sensible, well-tuned rev limiter</li><li>Rocker Retainers as a safety net if valve spring pressure is lost</li></ul><p>Rocker Retainers are designed to catch the rocker and hold it in place until spring pressure returns. They reduce the risk of a dropped rocker, but don&apos;t replace a well set up valvetrain, and a severe over-rev can still break the clips.</p><p>On an 86 or BRZ? See <strong>Did the valve spring recall fix the rocker problem on the 86 and BRZ?</strong></p>

Will stiffer valve springs fix the rocker problem?

Yes. Our kits are designed to work with aftermarket camshafts and turbocharged engines. On the G16E-GTS and SR20, the cam just needs to match the lifters you run.

<p>Yes. Our kits are designed to work with aftermarket camshafts and with turbocharged engines. On the G16E-GTS and SR20, the cam just needs to match the lifters you run.</p><h3 id="aftermarket-camshafts">Aftermarket camshafts</h3><ul><li><strong>Subaru FA and FB:</strong> yes. An aftermarket cam doesn&apos;t change the rockers, so our pivots and clips still work.</li><li><strong>Mitsubishi 4G63:</strong> yes. An aftermarket cam doesn&apos;t change the factory rockers or lash adjusters, so the clips still work.</li><li><strong>Toyota G16E-GTS:</strong> run a hydraulic cam with our hydraulic lash adjusters, or a solid lifter cam with our Solid Pivot Conversion. See <strong>Which camshaft and valve springs should I run on my G16E-GTS?</strong></li><li><strong>Nissan SR20:</strong> the same rule. Our Solid Pivot Conversion is designed for Kelford Cams 186-series solid lifter camshafts. See <strong>SR20: hydraulic lash adjusters or solid lifters?</strong></li></ul><h3 id="turbos-and-superchargers">Turbos and superchargers</h3><p>Yes. Our FA/FB kit suits naturally aspirated and forced induction engines, including the FA20 DIT turbo. The G16E-GTS, SR20DET and 4G63 are turbo engines from the factory, and our kits are made for them.</p><h3 id="match-your-springs-to-your-cam">Match your springs to your cam</h3><p>Rocker Retainers don&apos;t raise your safe rev limit. Run valve springs that suit your cam and RPM. See <strong>Will stiffer valve springs fix the rocker problem?</strong></p>

Do Rocker Retainers work with aftermarket camshafts or turbos?

A kit is insurance against a rebuild that generally runs $5,000 to $10,000. Our kits are designed, engineered and assembled in Newcastle, track proven since 2019, and sold as matched kits.

<p>Think of a kit as insurance for your engine. A dropped rocker can mean a rebuild that generally runs $5,000 to $10,000 once pistons, valves and gaskets are counted, plus the time your car is off the road.</p><h3 id="what-youre-paying-for">What you&apos;re paying for</h3><ul><li><strong>Designed, engineered and assembled in Newcastle, Australia</strong></li><li><strong>Track proven.</strong> We&apos;ve been running our Rocker Retainers since 2019, on everything from daily drivers to Toyota 86 Racing Series cars.</li><li><strong>Matched kits.</strong> Each clip is made to work with the groove in our own pivots, lash adjusters or lifters (or the factory lash adjusters on the 4G63), so every part in the kit is designed to work together. See <strong>Can I buy the clips separately?</strong></li></ul><p>Our prices are the same for every customer, all year round. See <strong>Can I get a discount?</strong></p>

Why do Rocker Retainer kits cost what they do?

No. Our Rocker Retainer clips are only sold as part of a matched kit, because each clip is made to work with the groove in our own pivots, lash adjusters or lifters.

<p>No. Our Rocker Retainer clips are only sold as part of a matched kit.</p>
<h3 id="why-not">Why not?</h3>
<p>Each clip is designed to work with a retaining groove of a specific profile and depth. On most engines the factory parts have no groove, so the clip has nothing to locate in:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Subaru FA/FB:</strong> the kit includes our grooved pivots. See <strong>What&apos;s included in the FA/FB kit?</strong></li>
<li><strong>Toyota G16E-GTS and Nissan SR20:</strong> the kits include our own lash adjusters (or solid lifters) with a retaining groove.</li>
<li><strong>Mitsubishi 4G63:</strong> the factory lash adjusters already have a groove, so these kits are clips only, sold as a set of 16 for the whole engine. See <strong>Why do the 4G63 kits include only clips and no lash adjusters?</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="can-i-machine-a-groove-into-my-factory-parts-instead">Can I machine a groove into my factory parts instead?</h3>
<p>We strongly advise against it. The groove profile and dimensions are critical:</p>
<ul>
<li>Cutting into a hardened part exposes softer steel underneath and can weaken it.</li>
<li>The wrong profile can make the clip catch in normal running, or not hold the rocker when it needs to.</li>
</ul>
<p>By the time you&apos;ve paid for accurate machining of hardened parts, you&apos;re close to the cost of the kit.</p>
<p>Not sure which kit suits your engine? See <strong>Which engines do you make parts for?</strong> or email <a href="mailto:sales@denstoj.com.au">sales@denstoj.com.au</a>.</p>

Can I buy the clips separately?

A capable home mechanic can fit most of our hydraulic and FA/FB kits, but there are critical checks. Solid lifter kits need a machine shop. Our warranty only covers installation by a qualified tradesperson.

<p>It depends on the kit and your experience.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Kit</th><th>Who should install it</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>FA/FB Rocker Retainer Kit</td><td>An experienced home mechanic or workshop. The engine should come out of the car.</td></tr><tr><td>G16E-GTS or SR20 Hydraulic Lash Adjusters with Rocker Retainers</td><td>An experienced home mechanic or workshop. These are drop-in parts.</td></tr><tr><td>4G63 Rocker Retainers</td><td>An experienced home mechanic or workshop</td></tr><tr><td>G16E-GTS or SR20 Solid Pivot Conversion</td><td><strong>Machine shop only.</strong> Lash has to be set up professionally.</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 id="critical-things-to-get-right"><br>Critical things to get right</h3><ul><li><strong>Clip fitment.</strong> The clip must sit tight on the rocker, especially at the bottom of the pivot, so it never touches the pivot in normal running. Watch the <a href="https://denstoj.com.au/pages/rocker-retainer-install-videos">install video for your engine</a> before you start.</li><li><strong>Check clearances</strong> before you remove the factory parts and again after installation.</li><li><strong>Keep the head clean.</strong> There are plenty of openings a clip or collet can drop into. Cover them.</li><li><strong>Check oil holes</strong> in the head are free of debris.</li><li><strong>Hydraulic lash adjusters (G16E-GTS and SR20):</strong> we recommend soaking the hydraulic lash adjusters in clean engine oil for 30-60 minutes before installation. Do not insert any objects into the lash adjusters, as this can damage the internal one-way valve.</li><li><strong>SR20:</strong> we recommend guide shims on both sides of the rocker arm, with guide heights within +/- 0.025 mm of each other.</li></ul><p>Step-by-step guides: <strong>How do I install the G16E-GTS kit?</strong> and <strong>How do I install the SR20 kit?</strong></p><h3 id="warranty">Warranty</h3><p>Our warranty only covers parts installed by a qualified tradesperson. See <strong>What does your warranty cover?</strong></p><p>Got a Toyota 86 or Subaru BRZ near Newcastle, NSW? We can install the FA/FB kit for you. See <strong>Can Denstoj install the kit for me?</strong></p>

Can I install Rocker Retainers myself?

Rocker retainers for Subaru FA and FB engines: fitment, installation, valve clearances and our install service.

Toyota 86/GR86, Subaru BRZ, WRX + more (FA/FB)

Hydraulic and solid lifter kits for the G16E-GTS: fitment, camshafts, valve springs and installation.

Toyota GR Yaris/GR Corolla (G16E-GTS)

Rocker retainers for cast and pressed rocker 4G63 engines: choosing a kit and installation.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (4G63)

Hydraulic and solid lifter kits for SR20DE and SR20DET engines: fitment and installation.

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