It is odd because front wheels on our cars are not connected to any other spinning components except the wheel bearings. With the front wheels off the ground gab each wheel at 12 and 6 o',clock positions and try to wiggle it and see if it has play. Another idea I had was that maybe due to the suspension being decompressed over the winter (btw that's a "no no"), now the tires rub on something when going foreward. So with the car on the ground try to feel around the wheel whell for anything that comes too close to the tire.
