9 month old axle breaks!

I had both axles on my '94 Integra fixed by a great mechanic in California... driver's side in January and passenger's side a year ago.

We've moved to Ohio now and last week the car was at a shop for a week getting the relay replaced after a long, drawn out process with that mechanic and it didn't end well.

When I picked up the car, I noticed a clicking noise that happened intermittenly... in low gears or when downshifting or turning. It seemed pretty random. At one point there was a WHIRRR! sound also. The next day we planned on taking it to a new shop, but the driver's side axle broke after about 15 miles on the road.

The new shop has it now and showed me the damage. The driver's side axle is completely separated and he also showed me that the outer boot on the passenger's side is tearing also. He said it looked like the driver's side axle broke, which tore the boot... I know usually the boot tears first and dirt gets in there which wears down the joint.

I've read that usually people have that clicking noise for a little while before the axle actually separates...I only heard a little clicking and 25 miles later the axle was broken! And it was only 9 months old! Could this be a case of defective boots? I hate to say it, but I almost suspect the bad shop of tearing them. What else would cause that to happen so quickly to a new axle?

Also, from what I understand it's better to just go ahead and replace the entire passenger side axle rather than just the boot, huh? It's not too much more money and the boot seal will be better.