I was driving in an empty parking lot today and noticed some jerkiness while doing slow circles in both directions (clockwise and counterclockwise)

Hard to describe what it the car was doing but essentially it would be tracking smooth and all of a sudden it would feel like something binding somewhere. Not sure if this was the TVD or some traction control kicking in? ABS? Transmission?

There was no noise and it was just a physical jerking sensation. This did not happen throughout the turn and the jerkiness would happen once or twice per turn for about a few tenths of a second each time.

what do you all think; is this normal behavior? Do your cars also do this?

car drives fine in all other conditions. This only happens when wheel is on full lock in either directions.

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

Can you pin point exactly if the jerking is coming from the front or rear?

 

Tire scrub? Small gravel? Old tires?

 

I think my car does the same thing. I've only noticed it in my parking lot at work when turning slowly near full-lock. Forward and reverse. I assumed it was slipping on stones.

 

I’m not able to pin point it but if I had to guess I’d say it’s coming from the rear somewhere? Could this be the tvd kicking in? I’m not sure if that’s how the system works or if you would be able to feel it this way.


I kind of feels like something is briefly binding/ slipping and then let’s go. Car turns smoothly until this happens for a very very short amount of time. Happens maybe twice within a full rotation if driven in a complete circle.

 

It might be tire scrub but not sure. Would the stock wheel/tires scrub at full lock?

Tires are pretty new and I would say a negligible amount of gravel on the pavement.

Im guessing your car does not do this then?

 

yeah ‘slipping on stones’ would be kind of how I would describe it too. This only happens at full lock and does not happen on ‘normal’ turns. I don’t hear any noise either ( scrubbing, mechanical grinding etc)

what do you think is happening?

 

Not sure, I never stopped to look. I thought it was the stone thing. It seemed to be coming from the front, so I didn't think it was anything with the diff. I'll try to look into it more when I can.

 

It's tire scrub. We have an unusually tight turning radius because the wheels turn quite a bit. It causes scrub in the front end. It is usually noticeably worse with summer tires in cold weather.

 

I hope it’s just tire scrub and nothing expensive!

stupid question but if it is tire scrub wouldn’t I feel the scrubbing throughout the entire turn? I only feel this slipping, jerking (maybe scrubbing) thing once or twice while I’m doing a full circle turn.

 

My GS350 F Sport does the same. I drive a lot of different vehicles and the front end geometry changes at full turn (or close to it) and to me it’s normal. I am going to change my control arm bushings to see if it’s not so bad though.

 

@lexo98 does your car do this periodically during a full turn or is it during the entire turn? hope this question makes sense.

Clarifying this part because my car turns smoothly for most of the circular and I only feel this jerking/slipping thing one or twice during a full 360 turn.

It sounds like several people that replied report the same thing so I’m becoming less worried so I am feeling a bit better…but it still bothers me a bit

 

Pretty sure I understand what you’re talking about and it happens at close to full turn, not like if you’re just making a right or left into a driveway or something. I’m at 100k and already bought the control arm bushings to see if it changes anything. I do notice similar feelings on other vehicles I drive for work.

 

Trust me, it's a Lexus thing. Check your control arm bushings

I replaced my front lower control arm bushings and my car now turns perfect not only in tight spaces, but also on bends.
You will also save your tires too.

Lexus cars experience independent load on each axle and the bushings flex extensively. Hence., why you get that "slipping or skipping" feeling from either your front end or rear.

 

I wouldn't spend the money on bushings before trying different tires. I have solid bushings on my IS F, and even with solid bushings I get front end chatter with summer tires in cold weather. For sure, the big donut bushing is pretty soft and allows a lot of flex, but I've had chatter with both polyurethane and solid bushing on the front lower control arm.