92 clutch slave cylinder / throwout arm trouble?

[czissman]

Hello...

The snap ring that secures the piston into the slave cylinder popped out while driving. Replaced slave cylinder and while bleeding the snap ring popped out of the new one. Any ideas? Here's some more info:

Initial symptoms: clutch freeplay excessive, fluid low.
Action: add fluid, everything's cool.

2nd time: 3 days later, same symptoms.
Action: same as above, this time fluid lasted only a few dozen strokes (but clutch worked fine until fluid drained)

Action: removed slave cyl, saw piston was detached because retaining ring had popped free.

Action: bolted-up new slave cyl and attempted to bleed. Result: bleed never successful, and retaining ring popped out of new one.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Chuck