some number of years ago i was having my shop do my axle work, so i asked to do the outer boot, well the price was the same as a new axle +install. all that work to disassemble a joint, completely, regrease, new boot, the new circlip, reassemble joint. a lot of work to pay a shop. not to say you have 4joints, 4boots. like advanced has good prices on generic axles, rock auto you could try,,i have a bad one from them that came grinding, but it was cheap!?,,ive tho had real good luck with the napa axles i have. the one i had swapped in above i still have, was like $50 an axle back then,,
the other thing, i just love tire rack right about now, cause i can easily find bilstiens usually for all mk1,2&3s. the rears were like $70 per, not bad, forget the price on the fronts. (the shocks you know, if you didnt know).