Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 6.4	$ (55.5)
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(43.6)	(47.9)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0.1	7.9
Intercompany Activity	0axl_IntercompanyActivityInvesting	0axl_IntercompanyActivityInvesting
Net cash used in investing activities	(43.5)	(40.0)
Financing Activities
Net debt activity	(1.2)us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfDebt	20.6us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfDebt
Debt issuance costs	0us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	(0.2)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Employee stock option exercises	0.4	0.6
Purchase of treasury stock	(0.3)	(0.3)
Intercompany Activity	0axl_IntercompanyActivityFinancing	0axl_IntercompanyActivityFinancing
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1.1)	20.7
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(5.3)	0.4
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	43.5	74.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	249.2	154.0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	205.7	79.6
Holdings [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Activity	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Financing Activities
Net debt activity	0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Employee stock option exercises	0	0
Purchase of treasury stock	(0.3)	(0.3)
Intercompany Activity	0.3	0.3
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
AAM Inc. [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	19.7	(25.8)
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(7.5)	(9.3)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0.1	7.7
Intercompany Activity	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(7.4)	(1.6)
Financing Activities
Net debt activity	(2.0)	(0.1)
Debt issuance costs		(0.2)
Employee stock option exercises	0.4	0.6
Purchase of treasury stock	0	0
Intercompany Activity	(0.3)	(0.3)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1.9)	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(10.4)	27.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	69.7	36.9
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	80.1	9.5
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	11.2	14.8
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(2.1)	(2.7)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Activity	(9.0)	(12.0)
Net cash used in investing activities	(11.1)	(14.7)
Financing Activities
Net debt activity	(0.1)	(0.1)
Debt issuance costs		0
Employee stock option exercises	0	0
Purchase of treasury stock	0	0
Intercompany Activity	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(0.1)	(0.1)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(24.5)	(44.5)
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(34.0)	(35.9)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0.2
Intercompany Activity	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(34.0)	(35.7)
Financing Activities
Net debt activity	0.9	20.8
Debt issuance costs		0
Employee stock option exercises	0	0
Purchase of treasury stock	0	0
Intercompany Activity	9.0	12.0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	9.9	32.8
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(5.3)	0.4
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	53.9	47.0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	179.5	117.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	125.6	70.1
Elims [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	0
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	0	0
Intercompany Activity	9.0	12.0
Net cash used in investing activities	9.0	12.0
Financing Activities
Net debt activity	0	0
Debt issuance costs		0
Employee stock option exercises	0	0
Purchase of treasury stock	0	0
Intercompany Activity	(9.0)	(12.0)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(9.0)	(12.0)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0

Intercompany Activity - Financing

No definition available.

Name:	axl_IntercompanyActivityFinancing
Namespace Prefix:	axl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net cash inflow or outflow related to capital contributions or loans made to intercompany partners.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axl_IntercompanyActivityInvesting
Namespace Prefix:	axl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506951

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cash Equivalents

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358313&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3044-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are the amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Includes effect from exchange rate changes.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3521-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 230

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450594&loc=d3e33268-110906

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from the effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalent balances held in foreign currencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 830

-SubTopic 230

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450594&loc=d3e33268-110906

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3521-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 26

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3574-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activities, including discontinued operations. Investing activity cash flows include making and collecting loans and acquiring and disposing of debt or equity instruments and property, plant, and equipment and other productive assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3521-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 26

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3574-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3521-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow paid to third parties in connection with debt origination, which will be amortized over the remaining maturity period of the associated long-term debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net cash inflow or outflow in aggregate debt due to repayments and proceeds from additional borrowings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (j)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axl_AamIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axl_GuarantorSubsidiariesOfCertainNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axl_HoldingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_NonGuarantorSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: