OK, I just spent a day and a half trying to pull the oil pan on a stock 99 XJ 4.0. ...WTH..... Who designed that thing...I pulled the starter, oil pump,centerlink,end links, and the shocks...dangled it off jack stands, and still didn't have enough room. I took my wife and daughter standing on the rims to hold the axle down and a crow bar to get it out. That extra 1/2" to clear the bell housing was a ******. So I'm going to replace the pan gasket,rear main seal, and rod bearings. THEN I got to put it back in, So how do I get that extra half inch. Everything I've read says to pull the axle, It's still got the upper and lower swings arms in place. Which one and which end do I pull?

 

Unhook the shocks.

 

Get the body on jackstands and remove the lower shock bolts. Then put your jack under the front differential and raise the front axle. It is completely counter intuitive, but it will move the axle forward to give you room to get the oil pan in/out.
When replacing the oil pan, it will help to have the oil pump removed. You place the oil pump in the pan first. Then lift the pan into position. Once you get it above the axle, drop it down enough to get the oil pump in place and tighten the bolts holding it in place. Then you can put the pan back in place.
If you did not get the pan gasket with the the little plastic clips to hold it in palce, you can tie the gasket in place with dental floss.