Recently I found some spent oil or grease near the control arm on my driver's side wheel. Doesnt look like its coming from immediately above in the engine bay. Its near the CV axle and the strut, and on the tie rod end. not super familiar with all the components. See the pics and let me know if I should be concerned about anything?

 

Hard to tell for sure but in the second picture it looks like the cv boot has blown and the grease has emptied out.

 

right on, it does look like it comes from the boot doesnt it. I've never heard any clicking when turning & ive had it in 4x4 a decent bit recently

 

think i could throw new boots and grease in there and put it back in?

 

You could but the clamp bands are iffy with the replacement boots -
I don't know if they ship to Canada but at Oreilly's new not rebuilt aftermarket full half shafts are $60+ up to under $80
If it was me I'd go that route - new boots, cv's ect and you don't have to fight installing them and trying to keep the clamp bands in place.
I just did a quick glance at Rockauto boots alone were $13+ up too around 20+ and i didn't see full half shafts just bare cv's and boots

 

In your second to last picture it looks like there is some of the oil or whatever on the front, upper lip of the upper control arm.

Could there be a leak in a brake line? Is there a leak from the top-side of the upper ball joint?

 

Check with a finger, whether the boot is torn. If so, You have to take care of it. You may have at least 3 options:
- get a split CV boot that may be put without extracting all the axles. I haven't ever used them, so I cannot say whether it's a good option or not. I prefer the solid ones. That's the easiest way.
- remove hub from control arms, extract the axles and replace the boots
- go as above with a new axles set

 

Yeah theres no Oreillys in Canada, only option I've found is $130 reman form NAPA. Want to do boots but I dont have the band clamp tool so might just buy the reman.

I saw that, will check it out. Hope its water. Ball joints are covered in grease but have no play. Are they shot? will upload pics if concerning.

Split CV boots look like a PITA. Thanks though I never knew about those.

 

Get the front cutters, make them dull, enjoy Your new clamp tool.

 

Spit boots are just that a royal PIA and good if your in a bind but not for long term use.The seam does not seal well and puckers between bolt points along seam and clamp area. I tried them back in my VW sand rail days
I did check and ya Oreilly's don't ship to Canada or Mexico,
However I did go back to the Rockauto site and it looks like they do, as far as I can see they are under 50 bucks + shipping for a half shaft.
The cheapest route is the boot, if you have not gotten any dirt, water ECT. into the CV unit and if you are able to get the shaft to split into. I've never tried as for the cost I just replace the unit.
If you do just the boot replacement inless they have changed the mixture on the grease for them it's a high lead grease so more or less toxic and darn hard to clean off of skin, clothing, ECT
Also while you are in there digging around look at your shock mounting rubbers it looks like they maybe coming apart. I know all of this is just what you wanted to hear lol