When turning in, to say, a parking spot, with wheel at full lock, it sounds like I am driving over and crushing empty plastic milk jugs or crushing aluminum cans with my right front tire. The first time it happened 2 days ago I was actually looking to see what I ran over. The steering wheel feels like it is running over something at full lock. The car drives and steers fine in normal driving, it only happens at full lock going forward or in reverse. I cannot see anything wrong with just a visual inspection. The tires are the stock 235/45-18". They do not appear to be hitting the inner fender at full lock. The Lexus dealer will charge me $200 or $300 for a diagnosis. Thank you in advance, I appreciate any input.

 

Would you be able to lift up the front so both wheels are in the air, turn the wheel full lock, and turn the wheels by hand so you can better replicate?

 

That is a good idea, I will find a shop to do that Friday.

 

Lifting the front takes the load off the suspension and may eliminate a rubbing issue, Why not simply observe from outside the car if you can see and hear the obstruction?

 

@rk1972 :

Read about Ackermann Steering Geometry and also about Scrub Radius and Squirm.

When a car with a tight suspension and wide tires makes a small radius turn at a slow speed, it is typical that one of the front tires can slip, jump or jerk. An AWD car is even more likely to have this happen because the front axle is powered.



You'll find it slips/skips easier when you drive over a surface that has both dry and wet patches - with the wet surface making it slip more of course due to less friction (traction) or when turning sharply on a surface where there are painted lines (e.g. a parking lot) - the paint eliminates the normally rough surface texture that provides friction (traction).

 

Thank you, I have never considered this explanation. The reason you give is even more plausible because the problem does not occur 100% of the time.