Hey gents and gals, 100% new to standard vehicles, had an issue with my 02’ five speed awhile ago, my clutch pedal turned into a spaghetti noodle and based on what I’ve read online it appeared to be a big ol air bubble in the master cylinder, turns out there sure was a big ole bubble in there! So I’ve got that bled off and started pumping the clutch like a mad man, and here’s where my dilemma begins, the pedal stiffened up right to the same as it was before! For about 25 seconds. Then I noticed fluid dripping between the back portion of the oil pan and front section of the transmission is it the slave cylinder? Clutch? Tranny? Any ideas people?

 

You need to drop the trans and install a new clutch slave cylinder.
Do the master cylinder as well.

And while you're in there, you may want to install a new clutch, pressure plate and crank pilot bearing.

Have the flywheel resurfaced too.

Make sure and have the stick shift in neutral when you remove it, otherwise you won't get it back in correctly.
It has to be in neutral when removed and installed.

The new slave cylinder should be a Ford or made by LUK, don't by cheap parts, they only last about a year.
And in case you're wondering, if it was trany fluid, it would be red, Ford uses auto trans fluid in the standards as well.

EDIT:
When buying a new pressure plate, it has to be the self adjusting kind with small springs running around the diameter of the pressure plate.

Here's about the best video on how to bleed the system.