Stopping my 2 & a half year old having a pacifier?

my son has a pacifier, he doesn't have it at daycare but has it the minute he gets in the car & he has to have it or he'll go nuts. yesterday i cut the end off (his teeth look like they are starting to stick out & we can't hear him speaking properly) & when he asked for it i told him it was broken. he went into the worst tantrum i have ever seen. throwing anythnig he could get his hands on, running into the wall, screaming till he nearly lost his voice. i tried to hold him but he kicks me so hard i have to let go. so i let him get on with it, he eventually fell asleep. this morning he told me his pacifier was broken & i said it was very sad but things do break. i've been trying to keep his mind off it as much as i can, but he is really whiny & . i am letting him get away with this behaviour (normally he'd go in a time out). i feel like a terrible mom. what do i do when he's screaming for his pacifier? please no horrible answers, you'll send me over the edge