Front right CV axle is finally replaced...my gosh!
Many thanks to all that have replied with helpful comments. They all came handy.
Here are IMPORTANT updates for those that are interested in doing this.
Huge Mistake Made
I thought all 2010 LE models were AWD (All Wheel Drive), but it turned out mine was just FWD (Front Wheel Drive).
Hench, I ordered a wrong axle from online, so at a last minute, I had to go buy the only available rebuilt one from O'Reilly with lifetime warranty for $100.
The correct one has CV axle that is jointed to another axle (vs. one I wrongly ordered was just CV axle).
Difficulties
1. One of the bolts on the strut mount was wrong size (presumably when previous owner had after market struts replaced),
and the bolt was worn and became oval shape. So it took bunch of hard 3LB hammering to get it out. I still need to replace this.
2. As mentioned by someone above, the ball joint didn't need to come out, but the tie rod joint did.
2 joint remover from O'reilly rental didn't even fit. The 3rd one with adjustable 2 or 3 arm setup finally worked.
Once I had the right remover, it was easy to pop out the tie rod end.
3. CV axle was seized to the hub and took about thirty 3LB hammering and penetrating spray to get it to push out.
By then, the nut I left on the end of the CV shaft was smashed bit flat, and 32mm socket wouldn't even fit anymore.
So I had to rent a 34mm socket to remove this nut. Though I wasn't going to reuse this CV axle, keeping the nut on the
end did protect the threads even when the nut was smashed. (LOL).
4. Initially, when I didn't realize I need to replace 2 connected axle for this car, I was trying to remove just the outer CV axle.
Note that, there is no place to use slide hammer or pry bar if you just try to remove the outer axle. I think it's designed
for both connected axles to be replaced at once.
Not knowing, this I yanked on the CV axle dozens of times, which didn't work.
I then wrapped a heavy chain to the CV axle, and wrapped it to a 20LB dumbell on the other side to yank on it.
This remove the CV axle at the inner joint that is covered with grease. This left a inner housing still attached to the
inner axle. I then used vice grip tied to chain, and yanked on it with 20LB dumbell again, but vice grip eventually
came off. Tried this for couple of hours, and eventually called a local mobile mechanic.
Once the mechanic looked at car, he said, I need to replace with connected axles at the same time.
So we took off 2 bolts near the join of 2 axles, and after 10 minutes of pounding from under the car,
he was able to free the remain axle.
We then bought the correct axle from O'reilly and it took another 30 minutes of banging here and there
to get the bolt holes to line up correctly, and was finally installed.
Conclusion
This is definitely not for a novice mechanic work without properly lift to raise the car to provide more room to work.
The final CV removal and installation is not trivial, and really requires experience with lots of different prying tools.
The mechanic was my co-worker's friend, and he just wanted $100 for 2 hours of work to finish what I had started 4 days ago.
I told him that's too cheap. So I gave him $200, and I still felt like that was worth it.
He said, he could've done this in about 30 minutes to 1 hour at his shop with the lift and all the tools.
Next time, for such laborious work, I'm gonna take it to him.
Three good experience I got out of this journey are:
1. CV axle is finally fixed. Yeay.....
2. I now know my mechanic skill limits and still have much much to improve.
3. Found an awesome and honest mechanic who can rebuild engines, swap transmissions, and do complete car repair.