Typically, EVERY fuel pump failure (on GM C-K chassis vehicles) also had a fuel filter that was clogged or had never been changed. 70K miles seemed to be the approx time in the vehicle's life for this to happen. Fuel pump noise can be variable, but if you hear it get louder, something needs to be done (filter change?) to see if that helps.
It was also noted that when such failure on these vehicles happened, the wiring harness on the sending unit suffered varying degrees of "melting" of the wiring harness, which ultimately required a new sending unit . . . making the original $350.00 repair (pump, strainer, labor) increase about two-fold. I think that somebody now has a pigtail harness for that plug-in connector now? SO, in any fuel pump failure, ALWAYS check the wires on the sending unit for degradation as you can't tell how far they might have degraded internally when the pump was working harder against a clogged/restricted fuel filter.
Some vehicles (the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus were the first ones we ran across) have their filter in the tank, so no external filter. Other Chrysler products are that way too. If you don't find an external replaceable filter listed at the parts store, then it's most probably in the tank and part of the sending unit/pump assembly. As a Chrysler parts associate told me, the in-tank filter is oversized so it does not need to be changed regularly.
In the case of "returnless" fuel systems, the fuel pressure regulator AND filter are part of the sending unit/pump assembly IN THE FUEL TANK. Seems like some Dodge pickups had that first? Now, many GM light duty trucks are that way, possibly others by now too (cost and complexity savings?).
I would recommend a general rule of not less than 1/4 tank, if you can do that. When the low fuel warning light/chime happens on newer vehicles, there's about 2 gallons remaining. In the orientation of a "heat sink", that two gallons is not a very deep pool in the bottom of the tank (which is why the fuel pumps sit inside a plastic baffled situation, to keep fuel near the pump). Even the older carbureted vehicles' low fuel lights were supposed to be at 3 gallons, all things considered. Still, 4-5 gallons in the bottom of the tank (1/4 tank) would be better than 2 or fewer gallons, I suspect. In some cars, you don't notice the chime when the light comes on, by observation.
Another indicator of "something getting ready to happen" is extended crank time. Modern fuel injection systems require a minimum fuel pressure for the injectors to "fire". When the pump gets weak, it can take a while (cranking) for the pressure to get to the min spec, as it cranks (watching the fuel pressure on a pressure gauge), the pressure will slowly build until it hits the magic number (55psi, on some) and then it'll start and run (but with generally less power). So, several different warning signs on fuel injected vehicles . . .
Just some thoughts,
CBODY67