last night i was hearing some clicking and clanking from what sounded like the rear end, there is grease leaking out of somewhere by the driver side rear axle. any ideas what to check? or what it might be?

 

Grease or is it gear oil (should be able to smell the difference). If it is gear oil, likely the axle seals and bearing are letting the oil oil, oil washes the grease out of the bearing and then it usually starts to wear pretty fast. You may be able to feel wheel play if you lift that tire off the ground and give the wheel a tug.
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte...wheel_bearing/
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte...axle/oil_seal/