Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Aug. 31, 2013	Jun. 01, 2013	Mar. 02, 2013	Dec. 01, 2012	Sep. 01, 2012	Jun. 02, 2012	Mar. 03, 2012	Nov. 30, 2013 segments	Dec. 01, 2012	Dec. 03, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of segments									3
Net sales	$ 297,790	$ 289,126	$ 287,583	$ 256,271	$ 292,913	$ 286,733	$ 284,855	$ 257,264	$ 1,130,770	$ 1,121,765	$ 1,126,601
Operating profit									174,616	182,714	181,267
Other income (expense), net									(316)	283	41
Earnings before income taxes									174,300	182,997	181,308
Assets	1,448,843				1,205,502				1,448,843	1,205,502	1,134,933
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									44,651	36,647	24,171
Depreciation and amortization									32,233	31,815	32,435
Engine Mobile Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									507,024	503,607	510,012
Operating profit									106,345	111,653	112,839
Assets	397,545				372,011				397,545	372,011	338,197
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									19,809	24,062	11,406
Depreciation and amortization									10,488	9,327	9,325
Industrial Environmental Filtration [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									549,746	541,364	523,026
Operating profit									61,996	64,766	58,028
Assets	715,759				706,610				715,759	706,610	693,266
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									21,467	9,264	8,775
Depreciation and amortization									18,093	18,692	19,231
Packaging [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									74,000	76,794	93,563
Operating profit									6,275	6,295	10,400
Assets	41,030				36,350				41,030	36,350	39,571
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									2,467	3,250	3,824
Depreciation and amortization									2,859	3,090	3,166
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	294,509				90,531				294,509	90,531	63,899
Additions to property, plant, and equipment									908	71	166
Depreciation and amortization									$ 793	$ 706	$ 713