No I did not bench-bleed the master cylinder. I never heard of that! How is that done? I did used two pints of fluid in and attempt to purge the system of air. The parts are remanufactored purchased from auto zone. The push rod on the Slave cylinder keeps extended itself with every press of the pedal until the throw out bearing is pulled from the shifting fork or the pressure plate fingers. It's like the fluid is not flowing back to the master. I can use a pry bar and make the slave cylinder return and the fluid. There is no back pressure on the throwout bearing fork.One time I used a board to hold the pedal depressed for several hours and could not find any leaks.