To quickly comment on the boot issue, Rocky and Tim noticed how RCV ships the shafts with the boot quite stretched; They install the inner/smaller clamp of the boot quite far up the axle shaft. You'll notice in my above pictures that when I replaced both outer boots I have left the inner clamp off for testing. Currently the boot is scrunched together about 50% more than how RCV shipped it to me. So far so good, however I only have about a tank of fuel on them. I will scrunch them up as much as I can and add clamps before I leave for Texas next week.
While proof reading, I thought of another marketing slogan: "My tie rods have bigger nuts than yours" hahah
