Business Segments - (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 02, 2016 USD ($) segment	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | segment			3
Total net sales	$ 576,048	$ 569,134	$ 1,176,651	$ 1,131,202
Net sales revenue by services	576,048	569,134	1,176,651	1,131,202
Total intersegment sales	37,006	36,837	68,870	71,901
Total operating earnings	62,909	59,548	128,941	128,585
Restructuring charges	(4,893)	(2,629)	(6,190)	(3,847)	$ (305)
Inventory write-off relating to exit activities - See Note 8	(2,659)	0	(2,659)	0
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement			0	799
Litigation Settlement, Amount	0	(3,201)	0	(3,201)
Gain on sale of facility			0	4,348
Reserve Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales revenue by services	277,449	274,236	573,490	538,500
Motive Power
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales revenue by services	298,599	294,898	603,161	592,702
Americas
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	324,824	322,482	654,544	639,508
Total intersegment sales	6,981	6,667	12,985	16,707
Total operating earnings	49,890	48,427	93,200	93,772
Restructuring charges	0	0	(892)	(570)
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement		799		799
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	180,566	189,426	377,696	386,067
Total intersegment sales	21,937	23,824	44,100	42,462
Total operating earnings	16,997	17,141	36,833	37,693
Restructuring charges	(4,547)	(1,905)	(4,816)	(2,553)
Inventory write-off relating to exit activities - See Note 8	(2,659)	0	(2,659)	0
Litigation Settlement, Amount		(4,000)		(4,000)
Asia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total net sales	70,658	57,226	144,411	105,627
Total intersegment sales	8,088	6,346	11,785	12,732
Total operating earnings	3,574	(190)	7,757	(180)
Restructuring charges	$ (346)	$ (724)	$ (482)	(724)
Gain on sale of facility				$ 4,348