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Employee Benefit Plans Defined Contribution Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Defined Contribution Plans, ARC, Hourly Associates, Contributions Made to During Period | $ 1.9 | $ 1.8 | $ 1.8
Defined Contribution Plans, Hourly Voluntary Savings Plan, Matching Contributions During the Period | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4
Defined Contribution Plans, Maximum Company Match, Hourly Voluntary Savings Plan | 25.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plans, Salaried Voluntary Savings Plan, Matching Contributions During the Period | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.3
Defined Contribution Plans, Maximum Company Match, Salaried Voluntary Savings Plan | 50.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Percentage of Salaried Associate Contributions Eligible for Match | 10.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plans, ARC, Range of Percentage of Salary Eligible for Contribution, Low End of Range | 3.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plans, ARC, Range of Percentage of Salary Eligible for Contribution, High End of Range | 5.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plans, ARC, Contributions Made During Period | $ 3.6 | $ 3.5 | $ 2.9
Defined Contribution Plan, Maximum Percentage of Hourly Associate Contributions Eligible for Match | 6.00% |  |
Defined Contribution Plans, ARC, Maximum Percentage of Hourly Wages Eligible for Contribution | 5.00% |  |

X
- Definition Represents the maximum percentage that an hourly associate can contribute to the Voluntary Savings Plan that is eligible to be matched by AAM. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumPercentageOfHourlyAssociateContributionsEligibleForMatch
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the maximum percentage that a salaried associate can contribute to the Voluntary Savings Plan that is eligible to be matched by AAM. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumPercentageOfSalariedAssociateContributionsEligibleForMatch
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the total amount of contributions made by AAM during the period associated with the Annual Retirement Contribution (ARC). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansArcContributionsMadeDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the total amount of contributions made by AAM during the period to retirement accounts of hourly employees associated with the Annual Retirement Contribution (ARC). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansArcHourlyAssociatesContributionsMadeToDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the maximum percentage of an hourly associates' wages that are eligible for contributions made by AAM as part of the Annual Retirement Contribution (ARC). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansArcMaximumPercentageOfHourlyWagesEligibleForContribution
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the high end of the percentage range of associates' salaries eligible for contributions made by AAM as part of the Annual Retirement Contribution (ARC). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansArcRangeOfPercentageOfSalaryEligibleForContributionHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the low end of the percentage range of associates' salaries eligible for contributions made by AAM as part of the Annual Retirement Contribution (ARC). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansArcRangeOfPercentageOfSalaryEligibleForContributionLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the total amount of matching contributions made by AAM during the period associated with the Hourly Voluntary Savings Plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansHourlyVoluntarySavingsPlanMatchingContributionsDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the maximum percentage match by AAM of the contributions of hourly associates to the voluntary savings plan, a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansMaximumCompanyMatchHourlyVoluntarySavingsPlan
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the maximum percentage match by AAM of the contributions of a salaried associate to the voluntary savings plan, a defined contribution plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansMaximumCompanyMatchSalariedVoluntarySavingsPlan
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the total amount of matching contributions made by AAM during the period associated with the Salaried Voluntary Savings Plan. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axl_DefinedContributionPlansSalariedVoluntarySavingsPlanMatchingContributionsDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | axl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration