Why are the front shocks different from each other?

[Quicksilver]

When I changed my seal on the left , I removed both from the bike. The right one seemed to be fine. After reassembly of the left , I pushed on them both to to check the stiffness. I found the right  was softer and seemed to return a bit slower. The left  was stiffer and returned more sharply. I checked the fluid levels as well as I could, however I did not do anything with the right . Could the difference be explained by using a different oil in the one I repaired ? Why are they made differently?
Help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[DFragn]

Maybe because the right has a fluid compression dampener and the left has a spring [small secondary] rebound dampener.
They perform differently but in unison.


Edited: Right/Left error and recoil/rebound.

[Cliff]

When I changed my seal on the left , I removed both from the bike. The right one seemed to be fine. After reassembly of the left , I pushed on them both to to check the stiffness. I found the right  was softer and seemed to return a bit slower. The left  was stiffer and returned more sharply. I checked the fluid levels as well as I could, however I did not do anything with the right . Could the difference be explained by using a different oil in the one I repaired ? Why are they made differently?
Help would be appreciated.
Thanks

My understanding that by design one dampens the compression from the bump and the other dampens the return.  

[Warlock]

When I changed my seal on the left , I removed both from the bike. The right one seemed to be fine. After reassembly of the left , I pushed on them both to to check the stiffness. I found the right  was softer and seemed to return a bit slower. The left  was stiffer and returned more sharply. I checked the fluid levels as well as I could, however I did not do anything with the right . Could the difference be explained by using a different oil in the one I repaired ? Why are they made differently?
Help would be appreciated.
Thanks

If I work on one side I always change oil in both.
David

[TearlessTom]

When I changed my seal on the left , I removed both from the bike. The right one seemed to be fine. After reassembly of the left , I pushed on them both to to check the stiffness. I found the right  was softer and seemed to return a bit slower. The left  was stiffer and returned more sharply. I checked the fluid levels as well as I could, however I did not do anything with the right . Could the difference be explained by using a different oil in the one I repaired ? Why are they made differently?
Help would be appreciated.
Thanks

My understanding that by design one dampens the compression from the bump and the other dampens the return.  

So which is which?

[Larry]

Right dampens compression and left rebound as per the manual. 

[TearlessTom]

So is there a easy way to tell which one needs to be adjusted.

I am guessing I should put the left back to near normal and lower the right as before I changed the seals the left was a bit over full and the right was near empty and it had a better ride then.

[DFragn]

So is there a easy way to tell which one needs to be adjusted.

I am guessing I should put the left back to near normal and lower the right as before I changed the seals the left was a bit over full and the right was near empty and it had a better ride then.

Rod nut adjustments between left and right should be identical. They work in unison and the/your sweet spot must be determined unilaterally. If left and right rod nuts are much different you could actually misalign the front wheel axle and cause a pull to either side especially over bumps, much the same as the fluid being too high or low in one tube.

[TearlessTom]

Rod nut adjustments between left and right should be identical. They work in unison and the/your sweet spot must be determined unilaterally. If left and right rod nuts are much different you could actually misalign the front wheel axle and cause a pull to either side especially over bumps, much the same as the fluid being too high or low in one tube.

I was referring to the oil levels as before I fixed the leak the left was actually a bit over full and the right was low and the ride was sluggish but smooth. I think much of the sluggish was from the steering bearings that I replaced. Sluggishness is all gone now.

Would the fluid make a diffence in the alinement or just the nut height.?

Would a higher nut height make it softer or firmer?
Thanks for the help.

[DFragn]

Rod nut adjustments between left and right should be identical. They work in unison and the/your sweet spot must be determined unilaterally. If left and right rod nuts are much different you could actually misalign the front wheel axle and cause a pull to either side especially over bumps, much the same as the fluid being too high or low in one tube.

I was referring to the oil levels as before I fixed the leak the left was actually a bit over full and the right was low and the ride was sluggish but smooth. I think much of the sluggish was from the steering bearings that I replaced. Sluggishness is all gone now.

Would the fluid make a diffence in the alinement or just the nut height.?

Would a higher nut height make it softer or firmer?
Thanks for the help.

Yes, apparently unequal fluid levels can cause a pull. Less fluid in one tube leaves more air to compress making it "softer'" under weight load then the other. I made a mistake [unknowingly] with 2 ounces more in the right tube [idiot] than the left. This creates a slight pull that's enough to require counter steering and causes the bike to lean slightly while riding straight and takes some acclamation in the curves as well having one way lighter then the other.

The higher the nut the more pressure is applied to the rebound dampener [left tube] making it a little tighter.
Bottoming the nuts [more thread available into the caps] lightens the suspension. Probably best that bot nuts are equal, although I have no proof of that.

[TearlessTom]

Yes, apparently unequal fluid levels can cause a pull. Less fluid in one tube leaves more air to compress making it "softer'" under weight load then the other. I made a mistake [unknowingly] with 2 ounces more in the right tube [idiot] than the left. This creates a slight pull that's enough to require counter steering and causes the bike to lean slightly while riding straight and takes some acclamation in the curves as well having one way lighter then the other.

The higher the nut the more pressure is applied to the rebound dampener [left tube] making it a little tighter.
Bottoming the nuts [more thread available into the caps] lightens the suspension. Probably best that bot nuts are equal, although I have no proof of that.

Thanks, that explains a lot.

And I thought that pull was from the crown of the road.

[DFragn]

Yes, apparently unequal fluid levels can cause a pull. Less fluid in one tube leaves more air to compress making it "softer'" under weight load then the other. I made a mistake [unknowingly] with 2 ounces more in the right tube [idiot] than the left. This creates a slight pull that's enough to require counter steering and causes the bike to lean slightly while riding straight and takes some acclamation in the curves as well having one way lighter then the other.

The higher the nut the more pressure is applied to the rebound dampener [left tube] making it a little tighter.
Bottoming the nuts [more thread available into the caps] lightens the suspension. Probably best that bot nuts are equal, although I have no proof of that.

Thanks, that explains a lot.

And I thought that pull was from the crown of the road.

The crown does pull a bit too. But if your fluids are off by 2 oz. it's even worse. Up or down depending on the lowest tubes fluid level.
I guess it's probable to adjust fork fluid level to offset the road crown pull. But I'm not willing to be the tester. It's too much of a pain in the a$$ and too much guess work for my laziness.