Long term wrap up...
Looks like the boots I was sold through a vendor were not real Astoria ones.
Anyway, purchased a set of four real deal 3001 models from Astoria direct and the tool worked like a dream. These seem a hair on the large side, has anyone used just the 3000 model units?
Few thoughts:
My tiny compressor operated the thing fine.
Buy a good quality clamp tool. The $10 ones took retooling on my end to work correctly.
Buy spare clamps, trying to figure them out your first time is a pain.
Buy extra CV grease wherever you can. Autozone only carries ONE per store in my area. Whatever sense that makes is beyond me. I am sure Astoria sells extra, I failed to ask when ordered.
Slip the axle in by installing the splines into the housing first, then working the end into the hub. Once into the hub, pull the axle into the hub and install that bolt to retain it. Once you jack the assend back up again, the axles will go back into the housing fine and you will be able to install those c-clips. The W126 did not require removal of the calipers.
This tool is great, if you need to reboot your axles... borrow one or buy one if you have more than a few cars. My V90 needs a boot for the steering rack, so I bought a pair of boots to throw on there too.
A few of my chums own ATVs and go hog hunting all the time, they rip boots often. Now we can fix them in just a few minutes for chump money.