Leak from clutch slave

Jamie, are you losing any fluid from the clutch master cylinder? By small resistance I presume you mean the pedal feels soft?

If you're losing fluid from the master cylinder you have an obvious leak somewhere and air is getting into the system.

Most leaks occur from the clutch SLAVE cylinder as it does all the work .. If there's no leak from the clutch slave cylinder, suspect the seals inside. It's like a bicycle pump ..the seal inside wears and it won't pump..

You may be able to get an overhaul kit. I'm in the UK .. but here's an Ebay link for a slave cylinder overhaul kit just to show you what it looks like:
FORD CORTINA MK2 CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER REPAIR KIT SP2085
Here's a link to show you what the slave cylinder itself may look like (it may NOT be for your vehicle..)
CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER FORD FIESTA ESCORT
It's easier and quicker to fit a new slave cylinder than it is to strip down and replace seals with a kit. Be aware, after overhauling or replacing a slave cylinder you have to bleed it - remove the air.

The easiest way of doing this is to make sure the reservoir is fill of fluid, crawl underneath the car with a spanner/wrench, place a rag over the bleed point and get somebody to pump the pedal a couple of times while you undo then tighten the bleed nut.

If it's not the slave cylinder at fault- then it's the master cylinder. Master cylinders also have a 'piston' and rubber seals which wear/perish.
However, it's more than likely that it's the slave cylinder at fault

You should look at the slave cylinder for a leak or a bad seal.

If you can get a hand operated vacuum pump and seal it in place of the cap on the master cylinder apply vacuum and you will see the air bubbles being removed from the slave cylinder. It has always worked for me.

Usually there is a bleeder screw on the master or the slave, and you bleed it just like you would brakes.
But you should not be loosing fluid if the system is sealed.

i would look to a faulty seal in the slave cylinder, but would expect to find a fluid leak also above that i cant help

Yes, hydraulic--check again--fender side of brake master. Slave is usual cause of leak that eventually causes master reservoir to go dry and start drawing air. Check slave for leak. If leaking, replace slave and bleed system. Make sure to bench-bleed slave before installation by opening bleeder and pouring fluid into line port.

1. Raise and support the front end on jackstands.
2. Back off the flare nut on the fluid pipe to free the slave cylinder hose.
3. Pull off the hose-to-bracket retaining clip and pull the hose from the bracket. Cap the pipe to prevent fluid loss.
4. Unbolt and remove the slave cylinder.
5. Installation is the reverse of removal. Tighten the bolt to 12-17 ft. lbs. (16-23 Nm).

contact the person you got it from there may be a warrenty on the recently installed clutch !! you must make sure there is no leeks or problems with the clutch master cyclinder

more than likely the slave cylnder in the tranny or on the side of the tranny have you been seeing fluid on the ground.

Its sounds like a bad clutch cylinder or bad slave cylinder or fluid leaking. First check brake fluid level in clutch master , and check for a leak in clutch system. If there are NO leaks, then you either have a bad clutch cylinder or a slave cylinder. Bleed clutch at bleeder screw on slave cylinder and make sure there is pressure from master cylinder. If there is pressure then slave cylinder may be bad replace slave and bleed and that should take care of you problem. If master is bad then replace bleed system ad you should be good. Contact if you need more help. Thanks for using FIX YA.

Check to make sure the slave and master cylinders are working. You can probably bleed it if the slave cylinder started leaking. Could possibly be internal on the clutch master.