v3.7.0.1
Business Segments - Schedule of Summarized Financial Information by Reportable Segments Segments (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Jan. 01, 2017
Oct. 02, 2016
Jul. 03, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 27, 2015
Sep. 27, 2015
Jun. 28, 2015
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales $ 626,801 $ 563,697 $ 576,048 $ 600,603 $ 611,474 $ 573,573 $ 569,134 $ 562,068 $ 2,367,149 $ 2,316,249 $ 2,505,512
Total intersegment sales                 141,773 135,386 133,169
Total operating earnings 51,897 55,023 62,909 66,032 25,953 55,461 59,548 69,037 235,861 209,999 263,381
Inventory adjustment relating to exit activities—EMEA   (502) 2,659           (2,157) 0 0
Restructuring charges (2,123) 1,153 $ (4,893) $ (1,297) (5,927) $ (3,204) (2,629) $ (1,218) (7,160) (12,978) (11,436)
Impairment of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and fixed assets - See Note 5                 14,016 36,252 23,946
Legal proceedings charge (6,725) $ (17,000)         $ (3,201)   (23,725) (3,201) 16,233
Gain on sale of facility—Asia                 7 114 (8)
Property, plant, and equipment, net 348,549       357,409       348,549 357,409 356,854
Capital Expenditures                 50,072 55,880 63,625
Depreciation and amortization                 53,945 55,994 57,040
Reserve Power                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 1,142,327 1,109,154 1,252,637
Motive Power                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 1,224,822 1,207,095 1,252,875
Americas                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 1,332,353 1,276,027 1,322,337
Total intersegment sales                 26,039 32,984 29,987
Total operating earnings                 191,500 182,774 162,741
Restructuring charges                 892 2,058 0
Impairment of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and fixed assets - See Note 5                 (9,346) (32,999) (23,196)
Legal proceedings charge                 0 799 16,233
Property, plant, and equipment, net 190,169       177,720       190,169 177,720 168,274
Capital Expenditures                 34,809 39,127 34,768
Depreciation and amortization                 30,204 31,070 30,724
Europe                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Inventory adjustment relating to exit activities—EMEA                 (2,157) 0 0
Legal proceedings charge                 (23,725) (4,000) 0
EMEA                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 763,013 787,402 948,845
Total intersegment sales                 93,150 78,812 69,396
Total operating earnings                 76,425 75,666 109,861
Restructuring charges                 5,487 9,501 7,567
Impairment of goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and fixed assets - See Note 5                 (4,670) (3,253) (750)
Property, plant, and equipment, net 100,042       112,839       100,042 112,839 114,681
Capital Expenditures                 13,733 12,625 16,215
Depreciation and amortization                 15,693 16,337 19,664
Asia                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Total net sales                 271,783 252,820 234,330
Total intersegment sales                 22,584 23,590 33,786
Total operating earnings                 14,994 570 9,928
Restructuring charges                 781 1,419 3,869
Gain on sale of facility—Asia                 0 3,420 0
Property, plant, and equipment, net $ 58,338       $ 66,850       58,338 66,850 73,899
Capital Expenditures                 1,530 4,128 12,642
Depreciation and amortization                 $ 8,048 $ 8,587 $ 6,652