Van someone tell
Me the best way to replace the oil pan gasket on a 96 XJ 4.0

 

Remove the axle or raise your 96 using the unibody so the axle can drop. Removing the axle altogether makes it way easier. Would be a good time to replace the main seal. Bleepinjeep has a pretty good video covering both.

 

removal of the axle makes it easier to do the oil pan, but unless you were removing it for other reasons you are just making WAY more work for yourself. If needed you could unbolt the motor mounts and jack the engine up a little bit for more clearance.