You mention rebooted OEM axles being better. I'm worried that once I heard the clunking, the axle was running dry and may be compromised. Do you still think I may be better off rebooting it instead of replacing with aftermarket?

If I were in your shoes, I would find a good OEM replacement from a junkyard or fellow member and reboot it.

It's about 4+ hours of labor to pull them out and replace them each time, so saving a few dollars and re-doing the job isn't a great savings.

Dkr.

Do you have any tips as far as how to know if an OEM junkyard boot is any good?

People have had good luck when they rebooted and re-lubed the original equipment axles. Get one from the Junk Yard with intact boots.
Is even better if you can get Annular Axles as you can easily take them apart to reboot them.

The issue is that if the original equipment axle boot cracks through the Oil inside leaks out and if the crack is big enough outside stuff can get in.

The famous rebuilder uses grease unless you request Oil. Grease has the advantage that it does not leak out like the Oil would when the boot cracks.

I used Dorman Universal Boots but most people use Astoria Flex Boots to reboot.

__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel