Earnings Per Share Warrants Issued to General Motors (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2009
2009 GM agreement, number of shares available for purchase through exercise of warrants		4.1
2009 GM agreement, exercise price of warrants issued to GM		$ 2.76
2008 GM agreement, shares issued to GM through exercise of warrants	3.3

Represents the number of shares of AAM's common stock that GM was entitled to purchase, per the 2009 Settlement and Commercial Agreement between AAM and GM, through the exercise of warrants issued to GM.

No definition available.

Name:	axl_A2009GmAgreementNumberOfSharesAvailableForPurchaseThroughExerciseOfWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	axl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration