I test drove a manual tranny 2005 today, with 115k on it, and while it for the most part drove fine, I felt a slight harsh vibration thru the steering wheel when I deaccelerated with the car still in gear. It also seemed to make a very quiet squeaking noise from the front now and then, a double squeak: squeak-squeak... squeak-squeak... etc. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

was vibration in brake pedal too? a pulsation in front brakes can cause shaking steering wheel . as far as squeak goes id really have to listen to it but could have poly urthane mounts or bushings

 

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i was thinking that too but usally ud feel it at most speeds not just decel but could still be good possibility seen alot of weird things

 

I only felt the vibration when still in gear, foot off the gas but not on the brake.

 

I find the description "...slight harsh..." confusing but I always start with the easy stuff and work up from there. ie, tires. Wear, pressure, balance would be first. Then maybe swap F to R if you can just to see. 115k can be high milage if car was handled rough.
IMHO that is low to medium milage car and shouldn't be causing you worry. Keep shopping.
Socks

 

I had that sensation in one of my cars before also MT but I kind of felt vibration thru the whole car and it turned out to be a cracked engine mount. Just another think to check.

 

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The squeking and and decel vibration kinda sounds like cv joint, if it were tires it would be felt at many speeds and many conditions. Also could be brake rotors with a lot of run out or taper.

 

It might be the tie rods if the vehicle shimmys. If you can raise the vehicle front off it's wheels, you can hold the wheel at the edges and move it back and forth. If you feel looseness then it's one of your tie rods.

Outer tie rod-Look at the ball joint that connects the tie rod to the spindle. If you can see the ball joint move then its the outer.

Inner tie rod- Hold onto the inner tie rod. And shake the wheel. You should feel a vibration when you hold the rod.