Abstract: A releasable retainer for a replaceable top lift (30) of a shoe heel (10) includes a threaded wedge (25) threaded into a retainer hole (18) that intersects a mounting hole (15) for the top lift. There, a dowel rod or tube (20) holding the top lift at its bottom end (23) has a slot (21) at its upper end (22) engaged by a conical wedge tip (26) of threaded wedge (25) threaded into retainer hole (18). The wedging action of conical tip (26) in slot (21) of tube (20) or rod (50) spreads the tube and holds it firmly in mounting hole (15), against both rotary and axial movement.