[RacerX]

Ok, This is what may have happened on the mechanic's end.

Sometimes when replacing an axle/cv shaft on a car it's easier to remove the axle when you turn the wheel all the way one way. For example: If you are replacing the right front cv shaft you would turn the wheel to the right, Therefore collapsing the "Inner tie rod boot/steering rack boot". When it's collapsed it looks ok because it squashed together. So he may have put it on the lift or jacked it up, Turned the wheel THEN pulled the tire. If he did this he most likely wouldn't see it for it's not sticking out/stretched out in front of him.

See what it looks like when the wheels are straight.....I'd bet they don't look as bad as when they are stretched out. If so maybe when he pulled the wheel the wheels were straight and he didn't notice because it didn't look like a sore thumb.