What is this leak and grinding?!

Hi everyone!
I’m trying to figure out on my own, why my 2013 Tundra is making a grinding noise when I turn left. It sounds as if it’s coming from the driver front area.
I got down to take a peek today, and saw this leak. I followed it up and under the hood, and found this fluid from somewhere.
I’m sure one of you smarties on here know what all of this is!! I’d love to know your thoughts!
Thank you in advance!
Somer

 

I think you intended to attach a picture but nothing is showing up on my end.

 

The grinding may be as simple as the rock guard touching the rotor in certain circumstances. I'm afraid that the leak may require photos of where the fluid is landing on the suspension and as near as you're able, it's point of origin. Maybe even take a white paper towel and dab some of the fluid and take a photo of that as well so someone can have a go at determining it's color.

 

I’ve added pictures (I think,) so maybe that will help some.

 

I think I’ve attached them now.

 

I’ll google rock guard and then go look. Lol!

 

@Somerls
Is that water-wet or oily-wet. It kind of looks like moisture from running the A/C, but it shouldn't be draining from there....

 

Would only occur while rolling.

 

Went outside to get you guys a color of the fluid but it had all dried up....

 

It was oily wet, but gone now. The AC moisture is further toward the middle.

 

Okay. That seems to further support my hypothesis that it's water from the A/C. But again, I don't think it should be draining from there. Truck starting to smell musty? Or windows foggy with A/C running?

 

Alright, check brake fluid level like @15Yota just to cover that base. What confounds me though is that brake fluid doesn't really 'evaporate' per se.

 

No, I don’t believe so. I thought it might be the ac too, but then I saw it from another area. The leak under the hood is near the brake fluid reservoir and then coating that pipe that’s in the picture.

 

I will go take a look.

 

Huh. Focus on brake fluid for the moment. As important as it is. Duck under the dash to see if you notice any fluid where the rod from the brake booster goes through the firewall. The level in the reservoir can be made to check a bit easier by shining a flashlight from behind it to illuminate the level, especially if the fluid is newer.

 

I had to go and have a look at my truck to orient myself (no jokes please!). That larger aluminum line from the firewall is for the A/C, and in my truck it looks like that would direct moisture to that smaller bit of coiled up line that comes from the brake fluid reservoir and leak down from there to the frame and bump stop, exactly as suggested by your pictures. My suggestion would be to have your A/C inspected directing their attention at that spot.

 

@Somerls Hey, part of the deal is that you need to return and fill us in on what you've discovered and what the ultimate solution was. Just sayin'.

 

From the first picture, it looks to me like condensation on the outside of the low pressure side of the AC line. In that case, it would drip from there. Very high humidity on many parts of TX this past few weeks. and the cold low pressure line would condense the humid air on the outside of that line. I think the condensate from the evaporator core drains much lower through the floor toward the center. I have my doubts as to it being "oily wet" as indicated, since that would NOT dry up quickly at all.

In any case, I don't think the "leak" has anything to do with the grinding noise.

 

^ DITTO
I concur with ericsoap

Good luck with confirming and welcome from northern Maryland

 

Nice! My mind probably never would've gone toward that line of troubleshooting, it simply doesn't get very humid where I live, so it's outside of my experience.

 

Grinding noise maybe tires rubbing OEM skid plate at full turn lock??? Over size tires n wheels, wheel spacers?