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Long-Term Debt Long-term Debt Instruments (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 10, 2009
Mar. 01, 2013
Feb. 27, 2007
Nov. 03, 2011
Sep. 17, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Debt   $ 1,536.4us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount $ 1,559.1us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount            
Current portion of long-term debt   13.0us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent 0us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent            
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations   1,523.4us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 1,559.1us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations            
Debt issuance costs   0.3us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts 16.7us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts 10.6us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts          
Amended Revolving Facility, interest rate description   Borrowings under the revolving credit facility and term facility bear interest at rates based on adjusted LIBOR or an alternate base rate, plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin for LIBOR-based loans will be between 1.5% and 3.0%.              
Line of credit facility, reduction in borrowing capacity, termination of loan facility 72.8axl_Lineofcreditfacilityreductioninborrowingcapacityterminationofloanfacility                
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost 0.5us-gaap_WriteOffOfDeferredDebtIssuanceCost                
Repayments of long-term debt   27.0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt 652.0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt 299.1us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt          
Debt refinancing and redemption costs   0axl_OtherExpenseDebtRefinancingAndRedemptionCosts 36.8axl_OtherExpenseDebtRefinancingAndRedemptionCosts 19.8axl_OtherExpenseDebtRefinancingAndRedemptionCosts          
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding   0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
           
Amended revolving facility, maximum borrowing capacity   523.5us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
             
Amended revolving facility, remaining borrowing capacity   505.5us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
             
Amended revolving facility, standby letters of credit issued against the facility   18.0us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
             
Secured Debt [Member] | Loans Payable [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Long-term debt   142.5us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
150.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
           
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal   7.5us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentPrincipal
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
             
Amended revolving facility, maximum borrowing capacity   150.0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
             
Debt issuance costs   0.1us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
6.9us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
1.7us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
Secured Debt [Member] | 9.25% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Debt instrument, face amount         425.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
       
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   9.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
             
Debt instrument, original discount amount         5.5axl_DebtInstrumentOriginalDiscountAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
       
9.25% Notes, percentage redeemed       10.00%axl_A925NotesPercentageRedeemed
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
9.25% Notes, premium percentage applicable to voluntary redemption during the period       103.00%axl_A925SeniorSecuredNotesPremiumPercentageApplicableToVoluntaryRedemptionDuringPeriod
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
Repayments of long-term debt     340.0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
42.5us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
Debt instrument, early redemption premium     18.9axl_Debtinstrumentearlyredemptionpremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
1.3axl_Debtinstrumentearlyredemptionpremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
Debt refinancing and redemption costs     6.7axl_OtherExpenseDebtRefinancingAndRedemptionCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
1.0axl_OtherExpenseDebtRefinancingAndRedemptionCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
Debt instrument, redemption amount     190.0axl_DebtInstrumentRedemptionAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
           
Debt instrument, repurchased face amount       42.5us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A925NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SecuredDebtMember
         
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 7.875% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Debt instrument, face amount             300.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A7875NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
   
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A7875NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
             
Debt instrument, early redemption premium 8.5axl_Debtinstrumentearlyredemptionpremium
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A7875NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
               
Debt instrument, tender offer, fees 0.1axl_DebtInstrumentTenderOfferFees
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A7875NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
               
Debt instrument, repurchased face amount           300.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A7875NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
     
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 7.75% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Long-term debt   200.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A775NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
200.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A775NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
           
Debt instrument, face amount               200.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A775NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
 
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A775NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
             
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 6.625% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Long-term debt   550.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A6625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
550.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A6625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
           
Debt issuance costs       0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A6625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
         
Debt instrument, face amount                 550.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A6625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   6.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A6625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
             
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 5.25% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   0.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A525NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
             
Debt instrument, repurchased face amount       250.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A525NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
         
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 6.25% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Long-term debt   400.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
400.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
           
Debt issuance costs     6.6us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
           
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   6.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A625NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
             
Unsecured Debt [Member] | 5.125% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Long-term debt   200.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A5.125NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
200.0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A5.125NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
           
Debt issuance costs   0.2us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A5.125NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
3.1us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A5.125NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
           
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage   5.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A5.125NotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
             
Foreign Credit Facilities [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding   38.9us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= axl_ForeignCreditFacilitiesMember
53.8us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= axl_ForeignCreditFacilitiesMember
           
Foreign Credit Facilities, Remaining Borrowing Capacity   51.1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= axl_ForeignCreditFacilitiesMember
             
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Capital lease obligations   5.0us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember
5.3us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember
           
Debt Repurchase [Member] | Unsecured Debt [Member] | 7.875% Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Debt refinancing and redemption costs $ 2.1axl_OtherExpenseDebtRefinancingAndRedemptionCosts
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= axl_A7875NotesMember
/ us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
= axl_DebtRepurchaseMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember