Well... after a bit over 4 fours years, the boot I replaced has failed. Stink...
And it is my own fault - I clipped the small end onto the shaft at the wrong point (about a 1/4" too close to the CV joint). This caused the boot to chaff on itselt and it wore itself out.
So full of confidence, I tackled this again - and this time I could not get the axle to pop out of the CV. No way, no how. BUT... I was working on my own (against my own advice!). Pretty much confirmed that this is a two-person task.
So.. I removed the inner boot, pulled the tripod joint out and the completed the boot replacement that way... Slower and messy but still pretty straight forward.
And I stlll hate doing CV boots.
