I did remove the boot on the driver side and found a blue mark under where it sits that would not be visible once a new boot is installed. Wiped away though, not sure what that could have been...
I had a similar blue mark, I don't remember the side, but Jeff was unaware of any meaning.
I looked for a used tie rod end seal. It's cold and dark out there. It's tomorrow's exercise.
The first five pictures show my process for clean-up.
The last one is of my "reward".
Jim