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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

          {LETTERHEAD OF AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC.}


Patrick S. Lancaster
Group Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Secretary
American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.
1840 Holbrook Avenue
Detroit, MI 48212-3488

Mr. Lancaster:

I am General Counsel of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"). In that capacity I have acted as counsel for the
Company in connection with the registration, pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") of 2,000,000 shares of the
Company's, common stock, $.01 par value (the "Shares") for use in connection
with the American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. Personal Savings Plan for
Hourly-Rate Associates and the American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc. Salaried
Savings Plan (the "Plans") respectively.

In furnishing this opinion, I have reviewed the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of the Company, the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company, the Registration Statement and such other documents and records
pertaining to the Company as I have deemed necessary or appropriate to provide a
basis for the opinions set forth below. In this examination, I have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals and conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to
me as a certified or conformed copy.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations
stated herein, I am of the opinion that the Shares covered by the Registration
Statement have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued in accordance
with the Plans will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the filing or incorporation by reference of this opinion as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to all references to the
undersigned in the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto. The
opinion expressed herein is solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon
in any manner or for any purpose by any other person or entity. It may not be
quoted in whole or in part without my prior written consent.


                                Very truly yours,

                                /s/ Richard G. Raymond

                                 General Counsel