I recently gave my 240 to my mechanic to fix the rear differential. He was returning it to me, driving down the highway when the car started to shake. He slowed down to pull over and as he did the rear wheel fell off and ended up hitting another car. Why would a wheel fall off? Lug nuts? Could he have installed the differential incorrectly? This is in the process of happening right now, hes trying to get the wheel back on to bring the car back to me.

 

Sweet Jesus! Yup, lugnuts will do that. The issue is...is that what happened? Because, if he was working on the differential, there's all sorts of things he might have not tightened. Regardless, if he had to do anything much at all besides a pinion seal, rear case seal or top it off,,,the wheel would have been removed, calipers removed, rear backing plates removed and...to swap out the actuall differential, the carrier bearings had to be taken loose and the axles pulled out of the hub. This is not good stuff

 

He swapped the entire diff. so I'm guessing he didn't tighten something. Thanks for the info, I have no idea where to go from here. Could this have caused permanent damage to the rest of the car?

 

This is of absolutely no help, but reading marsilver's original post, all I can think of is comedian Ron White's run-in with a graduate of "Tire College" who was absent on "lug nut day".

I hope your 240 will be alright.

 

Well, if it was truly the wheel that ran off than most likely it was just lug nuts. Damage can very from nearly nothing to needing a new rear end. Really not too confidence inspiring.