A director plate retainer of a fluid injector includes an outer wall which is annular in shape and which extends from an outer wall first end to an outer wall second end and which is centered about an axis. The director plate retainer also includes a lateral wall which is annular in shape and which extends toward the axis from a radially outer extent, which is proximal to the outer wall, to a radially inner extent, which is distal from the outer wall. The director plate retainer also includes an inner wall which is annular in shape and which extends from an inner wall first end, which is proximal to the lateral wall, to an inner wall second end, which is distal from the lateral wall, the inner wall extending along the axis in a direction that is opposite from the outer wall.