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Income Taxes Unrecognized Tax Benefts (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning balance | $ 21.7 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 20.7 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 25.8 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Increase in prior year tax positions | 10.5 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 6.1 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Decrease in prior year tax positions | (0.5)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | (4.4)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | (1.1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Increase in current year tax positions | 15.6 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 4.0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 0.4 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Settlement |  | (4.7)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | 4.4 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance | 47.3 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 21.7 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 20.7 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties, beginning balance | 4.1 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued | 10.2 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued | 7.4 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Interest and penalties, increase in prior year tax positions | 8.1 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 0.1 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 2.8 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Interest and penalties, decrease in prior year tax positions | 0 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 6.2 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 0 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Interest and penalties, increase in current year tax positions | 0 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 0 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 0 axl_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpenseIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Interest and penalties, settlement |  | 0 axl_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisionsInterestAndPenalties | 0 axl_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisionsInterestAndPenalties
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties, ending balance | 12.2 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued | 4.1 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued | 10.2 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued
Unrecognized tax benefits, income tax penalties and interest expense | $ 8.1 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense | $ (6.1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense | $ 2.8 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense

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- Definition Reflects the effect on interest and penalties of adjustments of previously recorded tax expense, significant settlements of income tax disputes, and unusual tax positions or infrequent actions taken by the entity, including, but not limited to, tax assessment reversal, IRS tax settlement and unusual repatriation of foreign earnings. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The gross amount of decreases in interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The gross amount of increases in interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in the tax return for the current period, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The gross amount of increases in interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns, excluding amounts pertaining to examined tax returns. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of expense for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
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