Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net sales
External	$ 950.8	$ 820.8	$ 2,756.5	$ 2,376.0
Intercompany	0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties	0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties	0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties	0us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Total net sales	950.8us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	820.8us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	2,756.5us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	2,376.0us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Cost of goods sold	810.1us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	695.5us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	2,344.9us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold	2,024.2us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSold
Gross profit	140.7us-gaap_GrossProfit	125.3us-gaap_GrossProfit	411.6us-gaap_GrossProfit	351.8us-gaap_GrossProfit
Selling, general and administrative expenses	64.0	57.8	182.6	177.9
Operating income (loss)	(76.7)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(67.5)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(229.0)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(173.9)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Non-operating income (expense), net	(25.2)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(29.8)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(73.4)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense	(100.1)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) before income taxes	51.5	37.7	155.6	73.8
Income tax expense	7.5us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6.1us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	25.8us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9.1us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Earnings (loss) from equity in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) before royalties and dividends	44.0	31.6	129.8	64.7
Royalties and dividends	0axl_RoyaltiesAndDividends	0axl_RoyaltiesAndDividends	0axl_RoyaltiesAndDividends	0axl_RoyaltiesAndDividends
Net income after royalties and dividends	44.0	31.6	129.8	64.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(25.2)	17.0	(6.7)	(0.8)
Comprehensive income (loss)	18.8us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	48.6us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	123.1us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	63.9us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax
Holdings [Member]
Net sales
External	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Total net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Non-operating income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from equity in subsidiaries	44.0	31.6	129.8	64.7
Net income (loss) before royalties and dividends	44.0	31.6	129.8	64.7
Royalties and dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income after royalties and dividends	44.0	31.6	129.8	64.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(25.2)	17.0	(6.7)	(0.8)
Comprehensive income (loss)	18.8	48.6	123.1	63.9
AAM Inc. [Member]
Net sales
External	300.9	162.6	826.8	574.2
Intercompany	2.7	5.0	8.5	13.0
Total net sales	303.6	167.6	835.3	587.2
Cost of goods sold	291.9	170.1	812.3	566.3
Gross profit	11.7	(2.5)	23.0	20.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses	55.0	48.1	155.6	149.3
Operating income (loss)	43.3	50.6	132.6	128.4
Non-operating income (expense), net	(25.8)	(30.6)	(77.5)	(101.4)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(69.1)	(81.2)	(210.1)	(229.8)
Income tax expense	6.6	0.9	13.4	(13.0)
Earnings (loss) from equity in subsidiaries	63.9	50.7	186.7	115.6
Net income (loss) before royalties and dividends	(11.8)	(31.4)	(36.8)	(101.2)
Royalties and dividends	55.8	63.0	166.6	165.9
Net income after royalties and dividends	44.0	31.6	129.8	64.7
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(25.2)	17.0	(6.7)	(0.8)
Comprehensive income (loss)	18.8	48.6	123.1	63.9
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales
External	56.9	57.8	174.0	170.5
Intercompany	64.1	55.2	184.7	169.1
Total net sales	121.0	113.0	358.7	339.6
Cost of goods sold	100.5	97.2	303.0	293.3
Gross profit	20.5	15.8	55.7	46.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0.1	0
Operating income (loss)	(20.5)	(15.8)	(55.6)	(46.3)
Non-operating income (expense), net	2.0	2.5	7.2	7.9
Income (loss) before income taxes	22.5	18.3	62.8	54.2
Income tax expense	0.1	0	0.3	0
Earnings (loss) from equity in subsidiaries	(9.1)	(1.5)	(25.1)	(14.4)
Net income (loss) before royalties and dividends	13.3	16.8	37.4	39.8
Royalties and dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income after royalties and dividends	13.3	16.8	37.4	39.8
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(19.0)	(0.8)	(7.9)	(14.4)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(5.7)	16.0	29.5	25.4
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales
External	593.0	600.4	1,755.7	1,631.3
Intercompany	5.3	1.7	17.3	9.0
Total net sales	598.3	602.1	1,773.0	1,640.3
Cost of goods sold	489.8	490.1	1,440.1	1,355.7
Gross profit	108.5	112.0	332.9	284.6
Selling, general and administrative expenses	9.0	9.7	26.9	28.6
Operating income (loss)	(99.5)	(102.3)	(306.0)	(256.0)
Non-operating income (expense), net	(1.4)	(1.7)	(3.1)	(6.6)
Income (loss) before income taxes	98.1	100.6	302.9	249.4
Income tax expense	0.8	5.2	12.1	22.1
Earnings (loss) from equity in subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) before royalties and dividends	97.3	95.4	290.8	227.3
Royalties and dividends	(55.8)	(63.0)	(166.6)	(165.9)
Net income after royalties and dividends	41.5	32.4	124.2	61.4
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(22.2)	(1.7)	(10.7)	(17.8)
Comprehensive income (loss)	19.3	30.7	113.5	43.6
Elims [Member]
Net sales
External	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	(72.1)	(61.9)	(210.5)	(191.1)
Total net sales	(72.1)	(61.9)	(210.5)	(191.1)
Cost of goods sold	(72.1)	(61.9)	(210.5)	(191.1)
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Non-operating income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from equity in subsidiaries	(98.8)	(80.8)	(291.4)	(165.9)
Net income (loss) before royalties and dividends	(98.8)	(80.8)	(291.4)	(165.9)
Royalties and dividends	0	0	0	0
Net income after royalties and dividends	(98.8)	(80.8)	(291.4)	(165.9)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	66.4	(14.5)	25.3	33.0
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (32.4)	$ (95.3)	$ (266.1)	$ (132.9)

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity after income or loss from equity method investments, income taxes and royalties and dividends, but before extraordinary items and noncontrolling interest.

No definition available.