The invention provides a lead shear damper comprising an upper cover plate (2) and a lower cover plate (3). One end of the upper cover plate (2) is provided with a fixed end plate (9), and the other end of the upper cover plate (2) is provided with an upper return spring (5) fixed on a sliding end plate (7). One end of the lower cover plate (3) is connected to the sliding end plate (7), and the other end of the lower cover plate (3) is connected to a return spring (6) fixed on the fixed end plate (9). The upper cover plate (2) overlaps with the lower cover plate (3). A shear lead block (1) is arranged at the connection of the upper cover plate (2) and the lower cover plate (3). Under rare earthquake action, the return springs can be compressed or elongated to realize shearing deformation of the shear lead block and energy consuming effect of friction of the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate, and return can be realized through initial pre-compression or pretension force of the return springs during and after the earthquake.