THE PROOF
Fitted by the people who build these engines
Workshops and race teams fit Denstoj Rocker Retainers to FA20, FA24 and FB engines.
Denstoj Rocker Retainers for FA/FB Subaru Engine
$879.00
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In stock
Denstoj Rocker Retainers for FA/FB Subaru Engine
$879.00
Taxes included.
Shipping calculated at checkout.
16 pivots + 16 clips. One kit does both heads.
Reduces the risk of rocker arm ejection on every Subaru FA and FB engine. A heat-treated clip secures each rocker to a redesigned pivot for the split second valve spring control is lost.
Fits: Toyota 86/GR86 · Scion FR-S · Subaru BRZ · WRX (2015+) · Forester · Impreza · Crosstrek · Legacy · Outback · Ascent
OEM drop-in
Worldwide shipping
30-day return
Don’t build a Subaru FA or FB engine without these. Rev with peace of mind!
The Subaru FA & FB engines (eg. FA20 in the Toyota 86) have a fatal flaw. When a valve spring loses pressure, the rocker arm assembly can fall out. If it's picked up by the camshaft, it gets shot out the tappet cover, causing oil to spill onto the exhaust headers, potentially catching fire.
Now, without the rocker, the valve can drop inside the cylinder and destroy the piston. Yes, sometimes it’s an over rev but it can happen across the rev range even on your daily driver.
So if you drive a Toyota 86, or any Subaru with an FA or FB engine, this IS the most important upgrade you can do to reduce the risk of an expensive engine rebuild. It’ll give you peace of mind when driving.
YES it's the same on the 2022 GR86 and NO the spring recall has not fixed this.
Why Choose Our Rocker Retainer Kit?
Engine rebuilds can cost thousands of dollars, often ranging between $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the extent of the damage. Parts alone, such as pistons, valves, gaskets, can add up quickly. Our Rocker Retainer Kit is a fraction of that cost and offers peace of mind by reducing the risk of a catastrophic failure that could lead to an expensive rebuild.
Protect your investment and drive with confidence knowing your engine is safeguarded.
The price is set in Australian dollars and will automatically convert based on your local currency hence it will fluctuate slightly day-to-day.
If you aren't 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can request a return within 30 days of receiving your rocker retainers. See our refund policy for details.
What's in the box
16x Denstoj pivots, heat-treated billet alloy steel. 16x Denstoj Rocker Retainer clips, heat-treated high carbon steel. One kit does every intake and exhaust valve on both cylinder heads.
Fitment
Every Subaru FA and FB engine: FA20D, FA20F, FA24F, FB16, FB20, FB20A, FB20D, FB20X, FB25, FB25B. The FA20 in the Toyota 86 is also known as the 4U-GSE.
Toyota 86 (2012-2021) · Toyota GR86 (2022-present) · Scion FR-S (2013-2016) · Subaru BRZ (2013-present) · WRX VA (2015-2021) · WRX VB (2022-present) · Forester (2011-present) · Impreza (2012-present) · Crosstrek (2013-present) · Legacy (2013-present) · Outback (2013-present) · Ascent (2019-present)
Right-hand and left-hand drive, manual and automatic, naturally aspirated and boosted. Works with aftermarket camshafts.
Installation
On the boxer engine we recommend taking the engine and gearbox out. Once it's out, allow about an hour per head. Replace the pivots, refit the rockers, check clearances, then fit the clips.
Set valve clearance cold: inlet 0.10 to 0.16 mm, exhaust 0.21 to 0.27 mm. We run 6 thou (0.1524 mm) inlet and 10 thou (0.254 mm) exhaust. Lash is set with shims, available from your Toyota dealer.
Shipping, duties and returns
Ships from Newcastle, Australia, at a flat rate per order however many kits you buy. Enter your address at checkout for exact pricing in your local currency. Import duties and taxes, if any, are calculated at checkout. We always declare the true customs value. Not 100% satisfied? You can request a return within 30 days of receiving your kit. See our refund policy for details.
Part numbers
Our pivot replaces Subaru 13296AA100 (supersedes 13296AA040, 13296AA050, 13296AA051, 13296AA090) and Toyota SU00306140 (supersedes SU003-06140, SU00300283, SU00304520). Works with rocker arms Subaru 13249AA250 and Toyota SU00300278.
THE PROBLEM
Why FA and FB rockers fall out
The rocker arms in every Subaru FA and FB engine are held on by valve spring pressure and nothing else. Lose that pressure for a split second (valve float, a bounce, a carbon-sticky valve, a missed downshift) and a rocker can walk off its pivot. It happens across the rev range, on stock cars as well as built ones. A rocker retainer is designed to hold the rocker in place and reduce the risk of it walking.
1. Spring control is lost.
A valve floats, bounces or sticks and the rocker is no longer loaded.
2. The rocker walks off.
With nothing holding it, the rocker slides off its pivot.
3. The cam fires it out.
Picked up by the camshaft, it can punch through the tappet cover and spray oil onto the headers.
4. The valve drops.
Without the rocker, the valve can drop into the cylinder and destroy the piston.
THE RECALL
Didn't the recall fix it? No.
The 2012-13 valve spring recall replaced springs that could fracture. It didn't change how the rockers are held. The pivot has been revised three times and still works the same way. Every third-generation FA and FB engine has floating rockers, including the FA24 in the 2022+ GR86, BRZ and WRX. A rocker retainer is designed to hold the rocker in place.
Watch this before you build an FA20
THE STORIES
"I wish I knew about this sooner."
"Three of our own engines let go in one race season. That's when we built the fix."
Denstoj Auto Centre · Australian Toyota 86 race series
"First session of open lapping my engine blew. One of the rockers blasted a hole in my valve cover."
Patrick, Colorado · Toyota 86 track day
"I wish I knew about this sooner." It had just been rebuilt with more than 17 upgraded valvetrain parts and new springs. A rocker came out 5,800 kilometres later, on a 12-minute drive to an appointment.
Ricardo, California · Toyota 86 after a fresh rebuild
THE FIX
A clip and a pivot. No changes to the rocker.
The clip
The rocker retainer clip is heat-treated high carbon steel. It holds the rocker in place the moment the valve spring loses control and the rocker unloads.
The pivot
Our pivot has a groove for the clip. In normal running the clip clears it. If the rocker tries to leave, the wider part of the groove catches it. The wall is thicker than a machined factory pivot.
Together
The rocker stays secure in the valvetrain, with no changes to the rocker arm.
See the fix at work, then watch it built.
How the rocker retainer clip and pivot work, animated.
The rocker retainer kit demonstrated on an FA engine.
THE COST
$5,000 to $10,000, or one kit
That's what an FA or FB rebuild generally costs after a dropped valve. This rocker retainer kit is a fraction of that, fitted once.
Do I need these on a stock, daily-driven car?
Yes. We've seen rockers come out across the rev range on stock cars, manual and automatic. Carbon build-up makes valves stickier and raises the risk.
Didn't the valve spring recall fix this?
No. The recall replaced springs that could fracture. The rockers still float.
Does it fit the 2022+ GR86, BRZ and WRX?
Yes. The FA24 and FA24F use the same pivots and rockers.
Won't stiffer valve springs stop it?
No. The rocker is still only held by spring pressure. Match springs to your cams, and use the clips as the safety net.
Do I have to take the engine out?
On the boxer we recommend engine and gearbox out. Then it's about an hour per head.
Can I fit it myself?
Yes, if you're confident setting valve clearance. There are openings in the head that parts can drop into, so work carefully. Or we can fit it in Newcastle.
Will the clips tick or wear the valvetrain?
No, not when fitted correctly. The clip only engages when the rocker unloads, and lasts as long as the rest of the valvetrain.
How long have these been proven?
Since 2019, on daily drivers through to Toyota 86 race series cars. One early US wear case came from an incorrectly fitted clip, and our current pivot design came out of it.
Can I buy just the clips?
No. The clips don't work on factory pivots, so we only sell the complete kit.
Do you ship to the US?
Yes, tracked from Newcastle. Enter your address at checkout for exact shipping pricing in your local currency, and any import duties and taxes are calculated at checkout.
THE EXTRAS
Finish the job
THE ASK
Building an FA or FB engine? Ask us a question.
Tell us your setup, intended driving conditions, power goal, and we'll recommned what we'd do.