1999 Dodge Avenger

Upper strut mounts. That's the bearings that hold the weight of the car but let you turn the steering wheel.

Struts should not be bad yet at 64,000 miles; but then again, neither should your strut mounts. Have someone turn the steering wheel from full left to full right, (engine idling), while you hold your fingers around one of the front coil springs near the top. If the mount is binding, you'll feel a little tension build up, then it will pop and turn. The entire spring should turn very smoothly as the steering wheel is turned.

Very often binding mounts don't show up during a basic steering and suspension inspection. They might show up after the struts have been removed for replacement, then the mechanic has to find you and tell you, "as long as you have your wallet out, I found something else". They hate having to do that but it's better than putting in new struts with bad mounts.

Caradiodoc

The boots are just flexible rubber covers that go over the top of the struts to keep water and dirt off of them. Dry is a normal condition. They turn with the strut shaft and do not cause noise or binding. Some boots are attached to the upper mount, some are attached to plastic or hard rubber "cushions" that slide up and down on the strut shaft.

The boots do not protect the bearings in the upper mounts. Those bearings are what binds and makes the noise you're describing.

Caradiodoc