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Organization and Basis of Presentation Revenue Recognition (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2009
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]        
Deferred revenue, current $ 22,100,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent $ 17,000,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent    
Deferred revenue, noncurrent 94,200,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent 76,400,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent    
Increase installed capacity and adjust product mix [Member]        
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]        
Deferred Revenue, Additions 32,800,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueAdditions
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_IncreaseinstalledcapacityandadjustproductmixMember
     
Deferred revenue, current 6,900,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_IncreaseinstalledcapacityandadjustproductmixMember
     
Deferred revenue, noncurrent 20,500,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_IncreaseinstalledcapacityandadjustproductmixMember
     
Deferred revenue, revenue recognized 5,400,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_IncreaseinstalledcapacityandadjustproductmixMember
     
Delay of a major program        
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]        
Deferred Revenue, Additions 9,300,000.0us-gaap_DeferredRevenueAdditions
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_DelayofamajorprogramMember
     
Deferred revenue 8,800,000.0us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_DelayofamajorprogramMember
     
Deferred revenue, current 1,100,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_DelayofamajorprogramMember
     
Deferred revenue, noncurrent 7,700,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_DelayofamajorprogramMember
     
Deferred revenue, revenue recognized 500,000.0us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_DelayofamajorprogramMember
     
2009 GM Agreement [Member]        
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]        
2009 GM agreement, cash received       110,000,000axl_A2009GmAgreementCashReceived
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
2009 GM agreement, deferred revenue recognized       79,700,000axl_A2009GmAgreementDeferredRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
Deferred revenue 37,500,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
     
Deferred revenue, current 8,000,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
     
Deferred revenue, noncurrent 29,500,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
     
Deferred revenue, revenue recognized 8,000,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
8,000,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
8,000,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_A2009GmAgreementMember
 
Miscellaneous Deferred Revenue [Member]        
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]        
Deferred revenue, revenue recognized $ 7,500,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_MiscellaneousDeferredRevenueMember
$ 10,500,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_MiscellaneousDeferredRevenueMember
$ 13,100,000us-gaap_DeferredRevenueRevenueRecognized
/ us-gaap_DeferredRevenueArrangementTypeAxis
= axl_MiscellaneousDeferredRevenueMember