tranny, slave cylinder problems

The slave cylinder is under the clutch. So gravity won't let the fluid leak up. Yes you can change the slave without pulling the transmission. There's a line bundle under the left floorboard that has lots of airlines and buried in that is the line for the clutch. Make sure the leak isn't hiding in there.

Have you checked the clutch adjustment? And do you know how? Volvo has a different way to check free travel. The spec is 1/2 inch clearance between the face of the bearing and the clutch brake surface. You need a tool to do a good job of checking this. Take a welding rod and weld a 5/16ths nut to it (wrench size 1/2 inch) this makes it easy to stick up in the hole. Your tool should just slide up in between easily without a lot of play.

Second- when you did the clutch, if the yoke and linkage was not replaced make sure its still tight because that will screw up a good clutch fast. Warning those parts will cost you about $600 or more....Volvo only