There is nothing wrong with downshifting. Here is what I do.... don't tail gate and don't speed up to a light. Sometimes I just take my foot off the gas and can feel the engine winding down (I have a manual). You could almost feel a slight resistance. And believe me, I don't rev the engine until I switch gears. I baby my car. You can downshift without putting a lot of strain on the tranny and clutch if you do it right. Then put it in neutral and let the pads do their thing. That is normal.