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Derivatives Sales, Receivables and Postretirement Cost Sharing Asset by Major Customer (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
General Motors [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Accounts and Other Receivables by Major Customer, General Motors	$ 234.7	$ 45.5
Entity-wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage of Total Entity Revenues	73.00%	75.00%	78.00%
Chrysler Group LLC [Member]
Revenue, Major Customer [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable by Major Customer, Chrysler Group LLC	$ 29.1	$ 27.3
Entity-wide Revenue, Major Customer, Percentage of Total Entity Revenues	8.00%	9.00%	8.00%

X

- Definition

Represents the aggregate amount of trade account receivables and other receivables due from General Motors as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axl_AccountsAndOtherReceivablesByMajorCustomerGeneralMotors
Namespace Prefix:	axl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the amount of trade account receivables due from Chrysler Group LLC as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axl_AccountsReceivableByMajorCustomerChryslerGroupLlc
Namespace Prefix:	axl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Percentage of total entity revenues generated from a single external customer that accounts for 10 percent or more of an entity’s revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axl_EntityWideRevenueMajorCustomerPercentageOfTotalEntityRevenues
Namespace Prefix:	axl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EntityWideRevenueMajorCustomerLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration