Firewall clutch boot woes

So i was installing my firewall clutch boot last night. I bought one from Brewers. It came with a flaw in the neck where it touches the rod. Wayne at Brewers promptly sent out a replacement. So far so good.

So i decide to try installing the flawed boot as a practice run b/c the ends are so large on the rod. I soften the rubber in some hot water, ran the rod end on a wire wheel to insure no sharp edges that may cut the boot and put a very thin film of grease on it. Well, the boot ripped right at the flaw upon installation.

No problem i think. The boot was flawed. So i go through the same process on the good boot. AARRRRRGHHH! It ends up ripping in the exact same place.

I went back and looked at the boot i had taken off the donor car and it too was ripped (much worse) in the same place.

Can someone get me squared away here? I'm going to order another boot b/c I don't want wet feet, rusty floorboards or ruined carpet once this car is back together but this is just maddening.

Thanks

CE