changing front pads

I own a 99 venture and need to replace front pads.
are thes the kind that you cant just squeeze the calipers in?

Nope. You can. I have a large C-clamp that I use but they also sell clamps just for doing this. Front pads are actually pretty easy to change on the U-body vans.

At that age just as well overhaul calipers too.nothing worse than a sticky piston or fluid leaking all over your new pads.Kits are $4 apiece at autozone.Just make sure you bleed all 4 wheels instead of just fronts or you get to do it again while listening to "the pedal never was that spongy before".I just did my wifes venture this weekend.It has 121k.Did pad job at 50k with performance carbon metallic pads.Wow do they last,but dont use em if you hate wheel dust.My rotors seemed mic'ed a little thin,so I tossed a set on since the pads were warrantied for life{who warranties a brake pad for life? and why would they do such a thing}.Now venture is sealed at both ends.Sure wish GM had mentioned those defective wheel cylinders.

.My rotors seemed mic'ed a little thin,so I tossed a set on since the pads were warrantied for life{who warranties a brake pad for life? and why would they do such a thing}.
The answer to that is simple. Auto parts stores commonly warranty items like that so you'll come back to them when it is time to replace the item. At the same time your there, they hope you will purchase other items , and spend more money. If they hadn't warrantied the pads, there would be nothing to stop you from going to their competitor the next time you need pads, and spending your money there. By warrantying such an item, they know you will need to buy items like brake fluid, rebuild kits, calipers, rotors, etc. It is a good marketing tool to ensure future sales. I have seen it become more commonplace in the industry in the last decade. A word to the wise- some of these companies require you to present your reciept for proof of warranty. Your best bet is to photocopy or even scan your receipt into your computer,(if you have this capability,) for use at a later date. The reason? The paper and inks used today do not last as long as their counterparts did 15 to 20 years ago and more. I have found receipts from 6 months ago that have started to fade to the point of not being very readable, especially if they are exposed to light. On the other hand, I have found receipts from the late 1960's that look as good as the day they were printed. Autozone actually stores customer info on purchases in their system linked to the customers phone number. For how long I don't know, so it still is a good idea to make a copy of your receipt for safekeeping.

Uh,thanks for the answer but the question was rhetorical.Its not like I wasnt going to buy brake pads if they didnt have a warranty.I just thinks its silly to warranty a high wear item for life.Trak auto threw a lifetime warranty on virtually everything they sold,and they went tango uniform in large part because of having to hand out lots of free parts because they were selling crapp.Also I think autozone figured out lifetiming brake pads wasnt so great as the new set is 2 year limited{but since my receipt says lifetime they will honor that}.Luckily autozone does log in your warranty,so you dont have to produce your receipt.Just my .02.

While I know the question is rhetorical, I'm still going to comment on it. Most lifetime warranties aren't really a true lifetime warranty. They are limited, limited in the fact that they don't cover the actual wear surface. They are only warranted against a manufacturer defect...say a pad cracking, a rivet popping, or the bonding glue loosening. These types of defects aren't uncommon, but they typically don't happen.

The same type of warranty covers other wear items like clutches or even tires. All the manufacurer says is that it's not going to fail completely, only wear down slowly over time.

There may be exceptions to this, and some stores may cut you some slack if say your brakes wear down abnormally fast, but this is at their discresion.