"I have one stock boot from the outer I replaced"
Yeah, I've still got 2 OEMs & one used MechaTech. The MechaTeck has a small tear where the small band cut into it - should be reparable with some RTV since it won't flex there.
"take a platic bag, wrapped it around the geasey boot, then used duct tape."
GTK for emergency road repair. THX. Glad you caught it before any damage was done.