Weird sound coming from the tranny housing, what is it?

I lifted my gti VR6 up today on some jack stands just to take a look. I foiund taht my oil cooler was leaking, and when i rotated the tires both left and right front tires, it made a weird sound. When i turned it forward, then stoped,then reversed so the tire was spining the other way, at teh moment of the change in direction there was this stange sound in the tranny housing where teh axle going into the tranny. So basically, when the tranny is in neutral, when i rotate it so the car would be going forward, then change directions so the car would be goign reverse, this rattling sound occurs. Sorry, im trying to be as descriptive as pssible. The only way i can describe the sound is that it sounded liek a spray paint can being rattled. Sounded liek sometihing in there was rattling .......what could this [email protected]!!!!!!!!! Thanks~James


[Modified by JimmPTL, 11:55 AM 2-9-2002]