Sounds like you're describing brake booster. You've also mentioned having bad brakes. I assumed you meant grinding or similar, but if you have no help from the brake booster maybe you meant you have to smash down on the pedal real hard?
**edit**
Well, based on your post above, that is your oil filter housing. Also explains why you are having an oil mess all under the car.
If oil was changed prior to your pickup, maybe the sealing o-ring is not put on correctly causing your massive leak. I don't know why there would be a noise.
You need to remove cover and check the sealing o-ring. The bolts on top are 13mm.
Check that oil level!!
I think your noise is the open manifold connection to the banjo bolt for the alda, which is the line you are holding up.