it was rust and now it is replaced, along with the rotor, caliper and shock. everything minus the shock came off as one piece. The caliper was rusted - bleeder valve didn't resemble a bleeder valve anymore just a rusted spike ontop, the ebrake spring actuator thinga-ma-jig was the same (non functioning). New parts look so much better now.
New ball joints too, so glad the hobby shop had a ball joint press kit, but even better a regular press to use. One popped only the ball joint out, leaving the collar still in the arm, the other popped completely out.
All that's left is getting a set of new tires, an alignment, and I should be on my way to the PNW. Yes I'm leaving this weekend.
one tire got eaten up in the result of this catastrophic failure of the shock mount you could say. Shock mount fails = bushing mount on shock bends, breaking off welds on shock = shock then begins to lean and rest on axle cup = as axle rotates, creates groove/digs into side of shock absorber = as car moves and hits any dips or bumps, tire hits top of wheelwell causing inner most edge to rub each time, eventually wearing the edge down to cord = %$&*@^&*#@$*@# and more !*@#*&^$&*^$(*)_#(*(@ and then JSB.