Need some pointers - installing intermediate steering shaft boot

[Clever Idiot]

Hey all! So the boot was cracked (no surprise there). Ordered new boot and retainer clip.

Got the old one off, had the pin pressed out, new boot put on the shaft, and pin pressed back in.

Got the little squares and clips back on, put on the bell housing, and greased it up.

Then couldn't get the top part of the boot to go into the bellhousing to save my life. Rubber mallet got it most of the way there but then I ripped it trying to get it down far enough for the spring clip.

Any tips for this? Heating up the bellhousing is the only thing I can think of, but I don't want to compromise the new rubber.

[71MonteCarloMD]

I believe you would need to use the hydraulic press tool to get the rubber in place?

[Clever Idiot]

Thanks - might have to end up going that way. I haven't found a good video showing this particular step yet, but only a couple descriptions that make it sound like they did it by hand.