Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes [Abstract]
United States									$ (13,326,000)	$ (46,121,000)	$ (177,894,000)
Foreign									8,745,000	9,542,000	2,862,000
Loss from continuing operations									(4,581,000)	(36,579,000)	(175,032,000)
Current [Abstract]
Federal									(1,364,000)	157,000	313,000
State									13,000	(10,000)	400,000
Foreign									1,138,000	2,644,000	1,433,000
Total									(213,000)	2,791,000	2,146,000
Deferred [Abstract]
Federal									(3,625,000)	(10,694,000)	(43,749,000)
State									0	0	(19,000)
Foreign									(139,000)	(687,000)	(2,232,000)
Valuation allowance									1,450,000	(1,654,000)	42,197,000
Total									(2,314,000)	(13,035,000)	(3,803,000)
Total provision (benefit)	(1,560,000)	(410,000)	(1,461,000)	904,000	(12,622,000)	(495,000)	1,464,000	1,409,000	(2,527,000)	(10,244,000)	(1,657,000)
Reconciliation of the U.S. statutory tax rate to effective tax rate [Abstract]
Statutory tax rate (in hundredths)									(35.00%)	(35.00%)	(35.00%)
State and local income taxes (in hundredths)									0.30%	0.00%	0.20%
Incremental foreign tax (benefit) (in hundredths)									(15.50%)	(2.10%)	(0.10%)
Change in valuation allowance (in hundredths)									31.70%	8.80%	23.60%
Goodwill impairment (in hundredths)									0.00%	0.00%	12.30%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Other, Percent									(29.40%)	(0.50%)	2.90%
Change in rate applied to deferred items									30.50%	(0.10%)	0.00%
Change in liability for unrecognized tax benefits (in hundredths)									(40.10%)	0.20%	(0.50%)
Other items-net (in hundredths)									2.40%	0.70%	(2.70%)
Effective tax rate (in hundredths)									(55.10%)	(28.00%)	0.70%
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
Postretirement and postemployment benefits	29,250,000				23,837,000				29,250,000	23,837,000
Accrued liabilities, reserves and other	2,082,000				3,563,000				2,082,000	3,563,000
Debt transaction and refinancing costs	2,665,000				2,650,000				2,665,000	2,650,000
Inventories	1,621,000				1,628,000				1,621,000	1,628,000
Accrued compensation and benefits	3,251,000				3,331,000				3,251,000	3,331,000
Worker's compensation	1,279,000				1,599,000				1,279,000	1,599,000
Pension benefit	9,377,000				6,529,000				9,377,000	6,529,000
State income taxes	2,057,000				1,674,000				2,057,000	1,674,000
Tax credits	3,737,000				3,717,000				3,737,000	3,717,000
Indirect effect of unrecognized tax benefits	1,993,000				2,298,000				1,993,000	2,298,000
Loss carryforwards	101,418,000				95,000,000				101,418,000	95,000,000
Valuation allowance	(110,120,000)				(99,594,000)				(110,120,000)	(99,594,000)
Total deferred tax assets	48,610,000				46,232,000				48,610,000	46,232,000
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Asset basis and depreciation	(13,225,000)				(11,403,000)				(13,225,000)	(11,403,000)
Intangible assets	(46,246,000)				(48,048,000)				(46,246,000)	(48,048,000)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(59,471,000)				(59,451,000)				(59,471,000)	(59,451,000)
Net deferred tax liability	(10,861,000)				(13,219,000)				(10,861,000)	(13,219,000)
Current deferred tax asset	2,687,000				3,806,000				2,687,000	3,806,000
Long-term deferred tax asset	1,289,000				503,000				1,289,000	503,000
Long-term deferred income tax asset (liability) - net	(14,837,000)				(17,528,000)				(14,837,000)	(17,528,000)
Federal loss carryforwards	88,000,000								88,000,000
State loss carryforwards	13,400,000								13,400,000
Number of cumulative years of net losses									3 years	3 years
Valuation allowance (decrease) increase									(10,500,000)	(1,700,000)	45,900,000
Valuation allowance change in amount attributable to continuing operations									1,500,000	3,200,000	42,200,000
Valuation allowance change in amount attributable to discontinuing operations									0	4,400,000	3,700,000
Valuation allowance increased (decreased) attributable to OCI									(9,000,000)	(9,300,000)
Tax expense in OCI related for unrealized gains on pension and post-retirement benefits										0
Income tax benefit from continuing operations for pension and post-retirement benefits										12,600,000
Increase of current deferred tax assets										12,600,000
Cumulative retained earnings	(362,190,000)				(359,883,000)				(362,190,000)	(359,883,000)
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of the period				3,526,000				4,640,000	3,526,000	4,640,000	7,033,000
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year									0	5,000	4,000
Additions for tax positions of prior years									0	0	0
Reductions for tax positions of prior years									(741,000)	0	(800,000)
Removal of penalties and interest									0	0	0
Reductions due to lapse of statute of limitations									(160,000)	(1,119,000)	(1,597,000)
Settlements with taxing authorities									0	0	0
Balance at end of period	2,625,000				3,526,000				2,625,000	3,526,000	4,640,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would, if recognized, impact the effective income tax rate	2,600,000				3,400,000				2,600,000	3,400,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would, if recognized, impact the other accounts	0				100,000				0	100,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued interest	3,100,000				3,600,000				3,100,000	3,600,000
Unrecognized tax benefits, accrued penalties	800,000				1,500,000				800,000	1,500,000
Recognized increase (decrease) in interest									(500,000)	200,000
Recognized increase (decrease) in penalties									(700,000)	0
U.S. Federal Tax Jurisdiction [Member]
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Open tax years									2011-2013
Tax years remain open subject to the future utilization of net operating losses									2007 - 2010
State and Local Jurisdictions [Member]
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Open tax years									2010-2013
Tax years remain open subject to the future utilization of net operating losses									1998-2010
Accuride Canada Inc. [Member]
Deferred tax liabilities [Abstract]
Cumulative retained earnings	$ 20,700,000								$ 20,700,000
Canada [Member] | U.S. Federal Tax Jurisdiction [Member]
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Open tax years									2006-2013
Mexico [Member] | U.S. Federal Tax Jurisdiction [Member]
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Open tax years									2008-2013