[travelair]

I replaced my slave and master cylinder and successfully bled them. Here's how:

You can't do it once it's installed. Compress the slave rod and pour fluid in the line opening. Assemble everything. Compress the master rod all the way and then add fluid to the resevoir. Keep the resevoir full as you draw fluid into the cylinder (like a syrenge). There will still be air bubbles so hold the master in different positions while working the master rod (short quick strokes; you're only moving it a little) until the tiny bubbles stop appearing in the resevoir. The key is to do this in as many different angles as possible to get all the air out. And when you think you're done do it a little more to be sure.

Install the slave cylinder first. Insure the master cylinder actuating rod is firm when you try to press it by hand. Install the master and try the pedal. A good bench bleeding should be all that's required.

By the way, replacing these two parts did nothing for my Saturn. My next project will be to replace the clutch but I am quite worried that it will take too much time, money and won't fix the problem.

Is it really necessarry to remove the whole engine? Does the rear oil seal require special equipment to remove and replace? If my clutch is at fault for the difficulty shifting, then why doesn't it ever slip? Could the plastic hydraulic line between the master and slave be at fault instead?